Student Unions in Jaffna set up ‘People’s Parliament’

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 March 2010, 20:36 GMT]
The first session of the ‘People’s Parliament’, an organization launched by the representatives of various student unions in Jaffna peninsula, at Veerasingham Hall in Jaffna Saturday had to be cancelled as candidates or representatives of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) failed to turn up, the organizers of the event said. The organizers had invited the candidates of political parties and independent groups contesting forthcoming parliamentary election in Jaffna district electorate with the aim of offering an opportunity for the public to raise questions on their election manifestos and future plans and have their doubts cleared directly by the candidates.

Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam representing All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Secretary General of Eelam Democratic Political Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda and Senthilvel, an independent candidate, were the only three present. TNA’s absence shows that its candidates are not prepared to face the public, the organizers said.

The participation of the TNA candidates was counted crucial for the event and hence the meeting had to be cancelled, they added.

The organizers said that People’s Parliament will continue its sessions in the coming weeks.