TNA to get ‘formal say’ in N-E development

17 January 2019 09:06 am Views - 3304

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to introduce a mechanism to ensure a ‘formal say’ for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the execution of development activities in predominantly Tamil areas in the North and the East, an MP said yesterday.

Jaffna District TNA MP Dharmalingam Sithathdan told Daily Mirror the TNA parliamentary group met with the premier last week to discuss the matter. He said the Prime Minister agreed to work out a mechanism for it to be involved in development activities in the North and the East.

“We informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that we wanted a formal say in the process. Afterwards, we discussed as to how a mechanism could be worked out. The premier agreed with us,” he said.

The meeting lasted for about half an hour at the Prime Minister’s Office in the parliamentary complex. The discussion centred on development work in the North.

Meanwhile, the government launched a project on January 15 to construct some 10,000 houses in the North for the benefit of war affected people.

The TNA’s support is crucial for the government to remain in power. (Kelum Bandara)