2nd lead (adds: details)

CWC ministers to resign, extend support to Ranil

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 October 2005, 05:13 GMT]
Mr.Armugam Thondaman, CWC leader said at a media briefing Wednesday morning that the party's two ministers would tender their resignations from the UPFA government. He said the CWC has decided to support UNP leader Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe in the forthcoming presidential election. The CWC further announced the 19 proposals that should be included in the agenda by the new Government. One of the proposals has urged the new government to resolve the ethnic problem through extensive power-sharing mechanism. Mr.Thondaman said that the UNP has accepted the 19 demands of the CWC in this regard.

All the CWC parliamentarians participated in the press conference.

CWC ministers will tender theri resignations to President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge once she returns Colombo, Mr. Mr.Armugam said.

Mr.M.S.Sellasamy and Mr.Muthu Sivalingam, CWC parliamentarians currently hold ministerial portfolios in the UPFA government.

A large number of media media personnel attended conference held at Trans Asia Hotel.

The 19 proposals put forward by the CWC are:

1. Recognize that the ethnic conflict must be resolved by negotiations to the satisfaction of all communities living in Sri Lanka while guaranteeing the rights of the minorities.

2. The ethnic problem should be resolved by means of an extensive power sharing arrangement through institutions with devolved powers

3. Appreciating the agreement between the Government and the LTTE for the P-TOMS, believes that the proper implementation of the agreement will be essential for the equitable and efficient reconstruction of the damaged areas of the North East.

4. The government should seek a mutually beneficial partnership of shared economic, defense, security and foreign policy interests with India

5. Guarantee the retention of the Executive Presidency and the present electoral system.

6. Introduction of ethnic ratio for employment to the public sector by suitable amendments to the Constitution if necessary with flexible recruitment criteria to make this a reality.

7. Implement of government decisions on-

• (a) Recruitment of teachers to plantation schools.

• (b) Recruitment of 2300 A/L qualified youth as community facilitation assistants

• (c) Recruitment of 1000 plantation youths to the Police department

• (d) Commence work on the Technical College approved for the plantation youths in the upcountry and approve the development of three more in Matale, Ratnapura and Badulla.

• (e) Implement the expansion of the Sri Patha College of Education and make it exclusive to the Tamil medium.

• (f) Appointment of 500 postmen for door-to-door delivery of mail in plantations.

8.Implement the 3-year Development Plan prepared by the Ministry of Estate Housing Infrastructure and Community Development by securing and allocating sufficient funds.

9.The community development function of the Ministry should be implemented through Soumiyamoorthy Thondaman Memorial Foundation and allocations made as per above plan.

10. Plan and implement a state provided housing development programme with a house for every family on a land extent of 20 perches (as stipulated under the Land Reforms Commission Act of 1973) on all plantations.

11. The government must implement a plan for the economic development of he Indian origin Tamil country based in the plantations through micro enterprises and self-sustaining ventures.

12. The government should develop an integrated townships programme incorporating the Provision of Urban Amenities in rural areas concept enunciated by His Excellency Abdul Kalam, President of India, for the plantations.

13. Develop selected schools serving the plantation community and develop them to be state of the art schools as provincial centres of excellence and develop 5 schools as National Centres of Excellence as proposed by the National Education Commission.

14. Open up opportunities in the university system for plantation youth through modes of continuing education.

15. Restructuring of State Owned Plantations to be undertaken expeditiously in consultation and with the consent of the CWC.

16. Alienation of estate land for settlement to be stopped and if absolutely necessary to be done in consultation with the CWC.

17. Have a moratorium on the cuttings of trees in the Plantations.

18. Demarcate Tamil Grama Sevaka and Samurdhi Divisions in the districts of Kandy, Matale, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle and Matara plantation areas and appoint Tamil officers.

19. Draw up a scheme of developing the Estate road network and make available sufficient funds through the Ministry of Estate Infrastructure.

Mr.Rauff Hakim, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is holding a separate press briefing Wednesday morning in the SLMC headquarters 'Darussalam'. He is also expected to extend support to Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe.

 

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