AJITH SIRIWARDANA 
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TNA to talk to govt. on national question
The main opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday it hoped to hold talks with the government on resolving the national question no sooner Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe returns from his upcoming visit to India, party officials said yesterday.
TNA Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran told Daily Mirror that one of the stated objectives of the national unity government was the resolution of the national question.
“We will talk to the government straightaway with a view to resolving the long outstanding matter,” he said and added that the Tamil people were happy with the appointment of TNA leader R. Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader of Parliament.
According to reports several religious ceremonies have been organised at Hindu kovils in the North and East to invoke blessings on Mr. Sampanthan while a reception has been organised in Trincomalee to welcome the new opposition leader.
The TNA has also decided that in the absence of Mr. Sampanthan, Jaffna district MP Mavai Senathirajah, will act as the opposition leader.
The TNA Parliamentary Group also decided to hand over the post of Chief Opposition Whip to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Accordingly, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan proposed that JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake be appointed as Opposition Whip.
This is the second occasion at which a Tamil politician has become the Opposition Leader. Earlier, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Leader A. Amirthalingam served in the post from 1977 to 1983. Mr. Sampanthan was also an MP of the main opposition at that time. (Kelum Bandara)
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