'Firm policy on devolving power, only way to tackle N-E issue'

Democratic People's Congress leader and Colombo district parliamentarian Praba Ganeshan making representation to the political officer of the US embassy in Colombo, Jacob Chrigvi, yesterday said that a firm policy on devolving power is the only way tackle the North and East issue.

Ganeshan said the development of the economy and infrastructural facilities will not satisfy the aspirations of the Tamils in the Northen and the Eastern parts and the Tamils of Indian origin in the South.

He added that the Democratic People's Congress is of the view that the government with its two third majority in Parliament is in a very favourable position to arrive at a solution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

The majority Sinhalese will be agreeable to any solution put forward by the President who has the support of several Tamil Parliamentarians from the North, East and Up country. This opportunity should not be missed, he said in a statement.

The statement: "Several solutions and packages are already in place. Successive Sri Lankan government and political leaders were agreeable to devolving powers to the provinces. Provincial Council system is already established. Every effort has to be taken to strengthen the Provincial Councils by increasing their powers. Already agreed formulas and packages could give every guideline for a solution which could be constructed on previous experiences. There has to be a political will to accept the demands of the minorities for equal citizenship.

"Sri Lanka should be declared a multi-ethnic polity where everyone enjoys equal rights and rights to promote their cultural identity.

"It is our view that 1.6 million Tamils of Indian origin constitute a very important component of the Sri Lankan multi-ethnic society and they are represented by their own political parties.

"A final resolution to the ethnic problem has to take into account the political aspirations of the people of Indian Origin. The Tamils of Sri Lanka are not only represented by the Tamil National Alliance and other North-East-based political parties but also by other up country Tamil political parties.

"The government has to recognize this multiplicity of representation of the Tamils which includes the Indian Tamils, and initiate negotiations with them. Any solution to the ethnic problem has to address the issues identified by the Indian Tamil leaders. For this purpose several recommendations made to the Expert Committee of the All Party Conference has to be taken into account".