Minister Muralitharan to TNA:

Don’t repeat past mistakes

M.P. Muttiah

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should not make the same mistake as it did in the past, said National Integration and Reconciliation Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan at a press conference at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo yesterday. Minister Muralitharan added that it was only President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was able to end the 30 years of war and bring peace to the nation and there was no necessity to change the leadership of the country.

Minister Muralitharan said that major development activities were being carried out in the country. “President Rajapaksa had initiated the development of Hambantota port as well as the airport.”

He added that roads and schools were developed in the East.

“If President Rajapaksa was not re-elected that would hinder the development activities.

Therefore, all people must be united in supporting President Rajapaksa to continue the development of the nation.” He said 160,000 people had been resettled in the North and Mahinda Chintana had been fully implemented.

“Candidates might promise many things, but in reality they could not deliver everything.”

He pointed out that no other leader could end the war for 30 years and the President was able to finish it within four years.

“It was the President’s able political leadership that brought to an end the war which nobody dreamed of.

The TNA was unable to decide to whom it should support. They should not make the historical mistake again, Minister Muralitharan added. He called on the Tamils in the North to support President Rajapaksa as he was a democrat.

Answering a question, he said that both the Eastern Province Chief Minister and he would work together for the President’s victory.

Former UNP Parliamentarian Ali Zakeer Moulana said he was happy to return to the country where peace prevails.

He said he saw vast changes in the East under the President. “Only democrats could develop the nation. President Rajapaksa identified the ability and creativity of Minister Muralitharan, and appointed him as a Member of Parliament as well as a Minister. It was President Rajapaksa who liberated the East. Now it is time to rehabilitate the East. President Rajapaksa has successfully ended the war. Therefore, people should re-elect President Rajapaksa,” he added.

Answering a question, Moulana said though the LTTE diaspora was very strong in Washington he was able to successfully negotiate with the IMF as the Economic Minister at the Sri Lankan Embassy in USA. Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Abdul Risharth Bathiyudeen said President Rajapaksa had relieved the people from fear. “The people of North enjoy freedom now. Tamils have benefited much after the President defeated terrorism.”

The Minister said in the past, parents were always in fear that their children would be abducted by terrorists. “Now they think about the future of their children.

Ulamas and educationists now realized the true face of terrorism and support the President.

It is easy to speak about abolishing the Executive Presidency, but if the NDF candidate wins he would not leave power. If he comes to power, he would declare military rule in six minutes,” the Minister added.

The country had lost numerous lives and many were disabled. Now the country should be rebuilt as such there was no need for alternative leadership, he said. Bathiyudeen added that certain leaders who aligned with the UNP joined it for personal reasons.

There was a time that no Sinhalese could go to Jaffna. Now the situation has changed. The Minister said President Rajapaksa had decided to resettle the Muslims who were forced to leave Jaffna in 1990. He said welfare centres would be closed shortly. Armed forces were busy in demining activities, he said.

NUA Vice President Abdul Kalam said the Ceasefire Agreement was a Charter of Slavery. He said the SLMC leadership signed an agreement with the LTTE. According to the new agreement with the UNP, the SLMC had put forward only one condition, that is not to entertain any Muslims without the permission of its leadership.

When late M.H.M. Ashraff led the party, he always negotiated with national parties on the basis of Muslim aspirations.

Kalam said the leadership change was in need only for the Opposition but not for the people. He added that only under President Rajapaksa the people of the East as well as North breathe fresh air. This opportunity should not be lost, he said.

Presidential Adviser A.H.M. Azwer also participated.