TNA in agreement with JO on PC polls - Sampanthan

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R Sampanthan insisted in Parliament today (March 28) that the TNA’s stance was that the Provincial Council Elections should be held as early as possible.

By Sandun Jayawardana

Sampanthan was responding to an accusation levelled by United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Dullas Alahapperuma during the Budget debate that the TNA was remaining silent though the Government had delayed PC elections by more than one and a half years.

“The Provincial Councils were intended to give the people of different provinces a measure of self-respect and dignity by being able to share in the powers of governance,” he noted. However, Mr Sampanthan stressed that journey is not yet complete pointing out that the process of drafting a new Constitution aimed at power sharing, was now in limbo.

“I’m in complete agreement with the Joint Opposition (JO). We want PC elections to be held as early as possible, in the whole country, including the Tamil areas in the North and East. That is our position,” the TNA leader emphasized.

He further stated that there can be no democratic governance unless elections are held and representatives elected to the PCs to establish provincial administration. This is not something that governors can do, he added.