Video: TNA says PSC a ruse to dilute 13th-A

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TNA spokesman Suresh Premachandran while failing to explain its stance on the proposed Parliament Select Committee on the 13th Amendment, detailed what he thought would be the modus operandi of the government subsequent to the PSC being appointed and its findings made law.

Video by Indika Sri Aravinda

“This is the government wanting to satisfy Sinhala extremists who don’t want land and police powers given to the Provincial Council. The one-million signature campain by Wimal Weerawanshe and the private members motions to be brought by the JHU are all government sponsored,” he said.

Mr. Premachandran told a media conference today how the 13th Amendment functions but failed to state whether the TNA was for or against the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC).

“The Government will introduce legislation which stipulates that the consent of a majority of the PCs was enough instead of the consent by all PCs for parliament to pass a law. This will be done prior to the election. No sooner the elections are held they will use this ruse to ensure that Land and Police Powers are removed from the purview of the Provincil Councils,” he said.

Mr. Premachandran said the ‘majoritarian principle’ would augur well for the government and the Sinhalese majority since the other provinces except the Eastern province is governed by the Sinhalese.

He said the “Tamil people do not want a highway to Jaffna” and raised security concerns regarding the propsoed highway.

“Some 1.1 Billion is to be spent on the highway; we fear that this will be a security threat to India because Chinese personnel under the guise of engineers will be in Jaffna. This will be a threat to India,” he said

He further said that  the North cormpises of 87,000 war widows and disabled persons whose welfare the government needs to look into.

“ they need a livelihood and that’s what needs attention. Not in the building of a highway. The A9 is more than enough for the people in Jaffna who have many other burning issues other than the proposed highway” he said,

Several attempts to contact TNA MP M.A Sumanthiran and leader R. Sambanthan to get a clear stance of the TNA regarding the proposed PSC failed. ( Hafeel Farisz)