TNA’s participation in PSC talks sans preconditions imperative – Dew Gunasekera

by P. Krishnaswamy

Commenting on the conflicting views expressed by the TNA’s constituent parties over their participation in the long stalemated Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) talks, Human Resources Senior Minister Dew Gunasekera told the Sunday Observer that the TNA’s participation in the talks without preconditions was imperative in the best interests of the Tamils whom they represent.

They should be fair by their people and have their livelihood issues resolved as a matter of priority , he said, adding that he had personally called upon TNA leader R. Sampanthan over this matter.

Some members of its constituent parties had insisted on South Africa’s mediation to resolve the issues at hand, while some have rejected it and others insist that they should first hold talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on their preconditions for participation in the PSC talks.

Talks of this nature with the President is not the correct approach because history bears testimony to the fact that agreements reached on the basis of bilateral talks, such as the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Agreement, Dudley-Chelvanayagam Agreement and Rajiv-JR Agreement, were not successful, Minister Gunasekera said. The TNA should take part in the PSC which consists of all political parties represented in Parliament for a lasting solution, he said.

Sri Lanka would welcome South Africa’s help and guidance towards reaching a political consensus to resolve the issues as their experience is invaluable, the Minister said.