TNA talks again

The government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which resumed talks after a lapse of more than a month, agreed to continue their talks in future on the basis of various statements and proposals made public in the past for the evolution of a political solution.

These proposals made public earlier involves the report published by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) and the political package  put forward by the government of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga too.

However, the joint statement issued after the meeting did not give specific details about any such statement. The communiqué worded vaguely said only, "It was agreed at this meeting that the talks could continue on the basis of the Discussion Paper submitted by the TNA on 18th March 2011 along with earlier proposals, statements and reports for Constitutional Reforms made public so as to agree on the principles that should form the basis of a political settlement to arrive at acceptable Constitutional arrangements soon."

Asked for an elaboration on the outcome of talks, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran, however, declined to state anything beyond what was mentioned in the joint statement.

Asked whether the joint declaration signed by the LTTE and the 2002-2004 UNP government could also be considered as a basis for talks hereafter, he replied, “I won’t say it can be or cannot be. We only stick to what is mentioned in the joint statement.”

The Government delegation comprised Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva and Prof. G. L. Peiris, and MPs Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha and Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, (Secretary to the Committee). The TNA delegation led by leader R. Sampanthan and comprised MPs Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran, Mr. Sumanthiran and K. Kanag-Isvaran, President’s Counsel.

The two sides have had 11 rounds of talks so far.  For the last time, they met on August 4, 2011. After that, there was a deadlock since the TNA insisted on the government to respond to its proposals for a political solution handed over on March 18, 2011.

Subsequently, international pressure was mounted on the government to break the stalemate in this regard and engage the TNA in the evolution of a political solution as early as possible. India and the United States, in particular, made this request. (Kelum Bandara)