‘Let SL President resign and call fresh Presidential elections’ –TNA MP

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 November 2003, 16:37 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, should resign and call fresh Presidential elections as a way out of the current constitutional crisis without derailing the peace process and bringing more hardships on the people, said Mr. Ariyanayagam Chandraneru, the Tamil National Alliance’s Member of Parliament from the Amparai district, speaking to a gathering of fishermen at Alaiyadivembu in his district Monday, sources said.

The event was held to distribute cheques worth Rs.25,000 each to 25 fishermen at Alaiyadivembu under a housing project for fishermen implemented by the Fisheries Ministry.

Mr. A. Chandraneru,MP, speaking

Mr. Chandraneru was the chief guest at this event held at the Alaiyadivembu Pradeshiya Sabah (local government institution).

In his speech, he said, “At a time when the Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, and the Liberation Tigers were taking great efforts to carry forward the peace process, the President could not tolerate it, and she has intervened suddenly to frustrate peace. Her actions have alienated the people of the country. She has lost whatever support she already had among the people.

“She is currently playing a political game with a view to conducting general elections. She is causing difficulties to the political parties and the people in the country. Instead of doing so, she should first resign her position as President. She can prove whether she has more support than Mr. Wickremasinghe by such a Presidential election. That would solve the current constitutional crisis.

“There has been a great deal of financial aid from institutions such as the World Bank during the peace process, but the President’s actions are likely to jeopardize the aid.

“I was able to receive the aid for you through the Fisheries Ministry for your housing construction. It is only the first stage of funds for your construction. The next stage should come soon. You should do your job well. You could deposit a portion of your income at the Fisheries Bank, and prepare yourself for future loans.

The Batticaloa-Amparai regional director of fisheries, Mr. Dominic George, and the Alaiyadivembu Pradeshiya Sabah Secretary, Mr. S. Arulrajah, participated.