Govt, TNA talks progress without policy differences- Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena, MP

Five rounds of talks which took place between the government and the TNA have progressed without any policy differences so far. The talks were based on the unitary system of government.

These remarks were made by Parliamentarian Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena given the responsibility of monitoring the External Affairs Ministry. Gunawardena also functions as the secretary in charge of the talks between government leaders and the TNA leadership.

He said that the government side during the discussions said that they cannot agree to devolve police and land distribution powers to the Provincial Council under the 13th amendment. However, the government said that they have already taken action to appoint seven hundred Tamil police officers. The government team further said that if the necessity arises the government will extend this number even to ten thousand.

Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena MP further said that the government is considering the re-introduction of the Senate as a solution to satisfy the aspirations of the minority communities. Although government has agreed on creating the second chamber, the Senate, they have not decided on the formalities to set up the Senate. Whether the members to the Senate, are to be elected by Parliament or the Provincial Councils, by the people will be looked into at a later stage.

Speaking of the LTTE suspects in prison, he said some of them are rehabilitated before they are released. “On the question of the others, the Attorney General will study their problem, case by case and decide on what future action should be taken,” Gunawardena said.

There were almost 385,000 persons in the refugee camps when the war ended. Today this number had drastically reduced to 11,000 persons. Now they are free to leave the camp and earn a living outside the camp and come back in the evening to the camp. The government continues to give these people free dry rations.

Since the landmines are not completely cleared in the North, there is a delay in resettling these displaced persons. US Deputy State Secretary Robert O Blake personally visited these camps and was very satisfied with the facilities extended to these displaced persons, by the government.

Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena MP further said that the other parties in the government have so far given a friendly nod to the talks between the government and the TNA.

Once, these talks are successfully completed the government will talk to other smaller political parties on this issue and finally with the UNP.

He said that the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank have given around Rs 80 billion as loans to the people of the Northern Province. This is a good example of the rapid economic development taking place in that part of the country.

Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena MP said since there is a political vacuum in the North foreign investors are reluctant to start projects there. Once the elections are held there and the new Provincial Council is formed, these issues could be sorted out successfully. Thereafter millions of dollars will be invested by foreigners in the Northern Province.