Govt hails TNA’s undertaking to SC

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Government welcomes the TNA’s undertaking to the Supreme Court that they will tender an affidavit affirming the unitary status of the country, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

This means that they would recognise the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, desisting from Eelam or separatism, he said.

Asked whether the Government would hold direct talks with the TNA, as desired by them, on evolving a solution to the Tamils’ problems, the Minister said that he could comment only on talks within the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) as chairman of the committee that was appointed for the purpose.

Any decision relating to the Government’s direct talks with them on the matter need to be taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister said.