Courtesy The Island

Suresh P wants to know who represented govt. at Nepal talks

Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Suresh Premachandran has demanded to know who represented Sri Lanka at talks in Kathmandu, Nepal in April this year, which led to the so-called Himalaya Declaration jointly prepared by the ‘Sangha for a Better Sri Lanka’ and the Global Tamil Forum (GTF).

It was presented to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on 12 Dec., in Parliament. Premachandran has questioned the validity of the GTF’s initiative.Pointing out that those who participated in Kathmandu talks on behalf of Sri Lanka weren’t known, Premachanran alleged there was no transparency.

The Ex-MP has asked why the Buddhist prelates who blessed GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran couldn’t request President Ranil Wickremesinghe to implement the 13 Amendment to the Constitution fully. Premachandran stressed that granting police powers would be the initial step in confidence-building measures. Repealing of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would also be necessary, he said

The ex-MP has asked whether the GTF is used by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to build international goodwill for the incumbent administration ahead of forthcoming UNHRC sessions. Premachandran claimed that the GTF was a much weaker grouping now against the backdrop of many influential Diaspora groups quitting the organisation.

TNPF MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, too, has condemned the government- GTF move that has attracted praise and appreciation of some members of the parliament.

Jaffna District MP Ponnambalam accused the GTF of whitewashing the government regardless of an ongoing severe crackdown on human rights in predominantly Tamil speaking areas. Ponnambalam who had been at loggerheads with the TNA, called the TNA as an ‘extension’ of GTF.

The TNPF is represented by two MPs whereas the TNA is the third largest party with 10 members in parliament.

MP Ponnambalam has alleged that the TNA is engaged in desperate efforts to protect its share of the northern vote in view of next year’s national election and provided much needed backing for the government through the TNA. He has revealed that the TNPF’s central committee rejected Surendiran’s request for a meeting. Alleging that GTF’s actions had harmed Tamil people in the past, Premachandran asserted that the ongoing move was part of that strategy.

SLPP MP and retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera said that whatever the criticism he appreciated Surendiran’s declaration that he wouldn’t support a separate state during discussions with a group of MPs.

Ven. Kalupahana Piyarathana Thera, convener of ‘Sangha for a Better Sri Lanka’, addressed the gathering at the parliamentary complex and expressed his views on the ‘Himalaya Declaration’. Ven. Thera pointed out that this document is open for discussion and amendments.

Surendiran said that after 39 years, during his visit to Jaffna, he met the Tamil, Muslim Christian people and priests and they unanimously accepted that this national task should have been implemented earlier.Sources said that the GTF delegation also had an opportunity to meet US Ambassador in Colombo Julie Chung. (SF)