Tamil leaders endorse President's call

Invitation to TNA to join Government to establish peace :

Ramani Kangararachchi and Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Tamil political party leaders and representatives yesterday welcomed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Independence Day call to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to join the Government to establish peace.

Tamil United Liberation Front leader V. Anandasangaree endorsed President Rajapaksa's request, saying the TNA should be concerned about the people and not about the LTTE.

"The TNA is only concerned about the LTTE and not about the welfare of the people. When the tsunami hit Sri Lanka it was Sri Lankan Navy and Forces who visited the North and East first and took care of the people. The TNA did not visit until two or three days later," Anandasangaree added.

He said that even the international community talks about the LTTE but not about the people suffering in their custody. The LTTE keeps people by force and makes them suffer. The TNA should liberate these innocent civilians from the LTTE.

"I think the TNA and all the other political parties should join hands to solve the ethnic problem responding to the request made by the President on Independence Day," he added.

Upcountry People's Front leader P. Chandrasekaran said that President Rajapaksa's invitation was commendable. It was a good opportunity to the LTTE to recommence peace talks.

He said that earlier there were peace talks but at the moment there is no dialogue between the Government and the LTTE. Therefore, the LTTE, TNA and all parties should consider President Mahinda Rajapaksa's invitation as a very good opportunity to recommence peace talks.

"President Rajapaksa has invited TNA members to join the Government in good faith to solve the ethnic problem and develop this country.

But the TNA does not want to solve the problems of Tamils and they represent only the LTTE.

Therefore there is no possibility of the TNA joining the Government," Eelam People's Democratic Party Leader Minister Douglas Devananda said.

Ceylon Workers Congress MP V. Putthirasigamony welcomed the President's invitation. "The President's invitation is very good.

Now the Government should put forward relevant proposals and explain how the ethnic problem is going to be solved.

The Government should create the environment for the other parties to join and support it."