UNP abandon federal solution [September 28 2010]

The UNP has abandoned its original federal state concept as solution to the national problem. UNP General Secretary told the BBC Sandeshaya that there is no need for a federal political solution anymore and the LTTE has been vanquished.

The UNP, who agreed for a federal solution with the Tamil Tigers during the 2001-2004 peace talks with the LTTE, said it is no longer necessary to devolve the centralised power into regions as there are no longer armed militants. Attanayake said that the need of the hour is to sort out day to day issues of the Tamil community in the north and east instead of a political solution for the national question.

However, in the Oslo statement agreed by the UNP-led government and the LTTE it was stated that "both parties have decided to explore a political solution founded on internal self-determination based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka". But Attanayake, in his interview, said that there is no need for a political solution as the times have changed after the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers.