TNA still undecided on PSC talks

by P.Krishnaswamy

TNA leader Rajavarodayam Sampanthan told the Sunday Observer that in spite of the Government’s many open invitations, they have not yet decided on attending the PSC to try work out a political solution to the Tamils’ grievances. Their party met on Friday to discuss the issue, among various other political issues , but their party members were not in favour of attending the PSC mainly because the Government had not honoured agreements reached with them at the previous talks, he said.

Asked for his comments on this, SLFP stalwart Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, who headed the delegation at the previous talks said that the PSC was appointed by the Speaker and not by the Government. Even the Indian Parliamentary Delegation that visited the country last month had admitted that it is the right forum for resolving the issue. The 12-member Indian delegation, headed by Lok Sabha opposition leader Ms Sushma Swaraj, expressed its ardent desire that the PSC talks should begin soon, the Minister said.

It is now up to the TNA to take a decision on attending the PSC. If they genuinely seek a solution to the Tamils’ grievances they should appoint their members to the PSC soon, he said.