- Ranjan Arun Prasad
- For BBC Tamil
Image source, PMD SRI LANKA
For the first time today (25) a special meeting was held between the Tamil National Alliance and President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) media spokesman MA Sumanthiran said the meeting was aimed at discussing a political solution.
Negotiations are underway to find a political solution through the new constitution.
Minister of External Affairs Prof. GL Peiris assured that the report of the expert panel appointed by the President would be available with translations within two months and that new political issues, including devolution, could proceed thereafter, MA Sumanthiran said.
The Tamil National Alliance has agreed to this.
Meanwhile, before the second round of talks, an agreement has been reached between the government and the TNA on four issues to be addressed.
Image source, PMD SRI LANKA
It has been agreed that the President will take action in connection with the release of long-term prisoners under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The President has assured in today’s talks that land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will no longer be acquired for military purposes.
The President also assured that these measures would not be taken for the time being as some proposals have been made to change the boundaries of Pradeshiya Sabhas, district boundaries and coastal boundaries.
It has also been confirmed that the activities have been suspended during the period of negotiations with the Tamil National Alliance.
It has also been announced that land grabbing will be stopped under special laws.
In the case of the missing, the President’s party has stated that the one lakh rupees allegedly given to the relatives of the missing is not compensation for the missing and that it is a temporary payment.
It was also assured at today’s meeting that investigations into the disappearances would be initiated.
It has been agreed that a special development fund will be set up for the economic recovery of the war-torn north and east.
Sumanthiran said the government has promised to take all possible steps to attract investments from the diaspora through this fund.
In this context, TNA media spokesman MA Sumanthiran said talks on a political solution would continue within two months of the translation of the Presidential Expert Group’s report.
At the same time, it is reported that the focus is on the problems facing the country economically.
Report by the Presidential Media Unit
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that “we will work together to rebuild the country,” according to the Presidential Media Unit.
Image source, PMD SRI LANKA
The President also stated that as the leader of all the people of the country, he would pay a united front to all the people.
The President has said that the government is working on a number of issues, including the release of long-detained suspects, taking future action against suspects who have not been charged and prosecuting, initiating a fact-finding mechanism, restructuring the Prevention of Terrorism Act and resolving issues related to missing persons.
The President also pointed out that by continuing to work together, we can achieve the aspirations of all the people of the country, including the North-East, and move the country towards development.
Image source, PMD SRI LANKA
According to the Presidential Media Unit, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan has stated that his expectation is to move the country towards prosperity through a political solution in a united Sri Lanka.
They must unite as one nation. Mr. Sampanthan said that it was the responsibility of all parties to liberate the country from its current state by acting as one nation, one people. Mr. Sampanthan has said that he wants to see Sri Lanka become East Switzerland.
It focuses on future actions in relation to long-term arrests and detainees, release of long-cultivated lands, conducting inquiries into disappearances, discussions on amendments to be included in the new constitution after it has been translated into Tamil and Sinhala, and the establishment of the North-Eastern Development Fund. .