TNA committed to solution within “undivided, indivisible country" - Sampanthan

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) remains committed to a political solution within the framework of an “undivided, indivisible country,” TNA Leader R Sampanthan stressed in Parliament today (12).

By Sandun Jayawardana

Speaking during the debate on the Budget’s Second Reading, Mr Sampanthan noted that though the war has come to an end, the commitments made by the Government to give an acceptable political solution had not been honoured despite Tamil moderates again lending their fullest support to the process.

“Tamil moderates and Tamil people are committed to a just, reasonable political solution, and we will do all that we can to achieve that objective,” he remarked.

He argued that powers of governance need to be shared within an undivided and indivisible Sri Lanka so as to ensure that all people feel equal, that they have a sense of belonging to Sri Lanka and that Sri Lanka belongs to them. This is how multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, pluralistic societies are governed all over the world, he stressed.

He noted that much work has been done through the Constitutional Assembly in reaching consensus on moving constitutional reforms much beyond the 13^th Amendment. "Are we going to throw all this away and take the risk of the conflict being resumed, or are we going to do our duty and arrive at a just and reasonable solution?” he queried.

He appealed to Opposition Leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be involved in the process of trying to find a solution acceptable to all parties. 

Mr Sampanthan appreciated what he called the substantial allocations made by the Budget for the North and East, particularly in the area of housing.