UPF to support Ranil

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 October 2005, 20:55 GMT]
The Upcountry People's Front (UPF) Wednesday announced that it has decided to support Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe in the forthcoming general election. Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, Leader of the UPF told media persons in Colombo that he held several rounds of talks with UNP leaders, including Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe regarding UPF proposals to be included in the new government agenda. He released party's 30 proposals, Wednesday.

Mr.P.Chandrasekaran and Mr.V.Radhakrishnan represent UPF in Sri Lanka Parliament.

These proposals include that the government should recommence talks with the LTTE about the implementation of the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) and the P-TOMS and to find an appropriate political solution to the ethnic issue. Upcountry Tamils should be considered as a separate nationality when finding political solution to the ethnic issue, the press release issued by the UPF said.

Sri Lanka's Constitution should be amended to ensure required representation for upcountry Tamils in the parliament, provincial and local councils according to ethnic ratio. The boundaries of Predesiya Sabah, Municipal Councils, Urban Councils should be demarcated in such a way enabling upcountry Tamils to participate fully in the administration of these institutions, said the UPF release.

State lands, employment opportunity and public sector appointments should be distributed to upcountry Tamils according to the ethnic ratio where they reside, the release stated.

The implementation of the Kotmale west hydro-power project should be suspended Upcountry development Authority should be established to develop the economy and infrastructure facilities of the upcountry, added the UPF press release.