Sampanthan tells new PM to fulfil TNA demands

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 December 2001, 22:04 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Sunday told the new Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe that it would stick to its demands defined in its election manifesto in evolving a just and durable solution to the Tamil national question.

Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe Sunday morning contacted Mr.R.Sampanthan, a senior leader of the Tamil National Alliance, invited the TNA for talks. Mr.Sampanthan replied him that "the new government in its efforts to find solution to the Tamil national question, should first fulfil all demands of the TNA that are defined in its manifesto."

Mr.Sampanthan told the new PM that "the government should first declare ceasefire, lift the ban on the LTTE enabling it to participate in peace talks as the sole representative of Tamils and such peace talks should be held only with the LTTE through international third party mediation, according to TNA manifesto."

"We will develop our areas once powers are conferred to Tamils under a just and durable solution found for the Tamil national question," Mr.Sampanthan has told the new Prime Minister.

"I have visited every Tamil village in the Trincomalee district. I have witnessed immense sufferings of Tamils due to the present brutal war. This must be stopped immediately ", Mr.Sampanthan briefed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe in his telephonic conversation.

In addition to the Prime Minister, Mr.Karu Jayasuriya, Deputy Leader of the UNP and Dr.Jayalath Jayewardene, UNP parliamentarian also had contacted Mr.Sampanthan over the phone Sunday morning.

Mr.Sampanthan said he would not go to Colombo in the near future unless the date of ceremonial opening of the 12th parliament is advanced. The new parliament is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 01, 2002.