TNA will gain political mileage out of its support to shaky govt: MR

31 December 2018 02:01 pm - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should not be allowed to achieve through its support to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government what it could not accomplish in the three-decade long civil war, Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said, warning that the country cannot be divided.

Addressing a public gathering at Nochchiyagama in the north central province on Sunday, Mr. Rajapaksa said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) could make a political capital out of its support to the government.

“They should not be allowed to achieve through Constitution what they could not achieve through war,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.

He was hinting at the TNA’s support to Mr. Wickremesinghe to end the recent constitutional and political crisis which lasted for over 50 days.

Mr. Rajapaksa alluded that the TNA would make use of the support to win political autonomy through devious means when Wickremesinghe introduces a new Constitution.

“This country cannot be separated or divided, all must work in unison,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.

The TNA stood against sacking of Mr. Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26 and replacing him with Mr. Rajapaksa, triggering an unprecedented constitutional and political crisis.

Mr. Sirisena also dissolved parliament when it appeared that Mr. Rajapaksa was not able to garner working majority.

The Supreme Court delivered a huge blow to both Mr. Sirisena and Mr. Rajapaksa when a 7-member bench unanimously ruled Mr. Siirsena’s dissolving of parliament as unconstitutional. It led to Mr. Wickremesinghe being reinstated as prime minister.

Mr. Rajapaksa’s war effort in crushing the LTTE’s 30-year-old campaign to carve out a separate homeland for the minority Tamils has endeared him to the 74 % of the Sinhala majority.

He aims to convert the Sinhala goodwill to votes after he was ousted by a popular movement for reforms backed by both the Sinhala majority and the minority communities in 2015.

The TNA had backed Mr. Sirisena’s victory in 2015 and anticipated action on introduction of a new Constitution which guaranteed political freedom for Tamil minority in the north and east provinces.

However, Mr. Rajapaksa’s opposition has whipped up Sinhala majority nationalism to scuttle the effort.
His new party the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) swept the local polls held in February this year in the Sinhala-dominated areas.

Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party demands devolution of powers in the new Constitution to resolve ethnic issues.

The Tamil minority seeks a power devolution arrangement to give autonomy to the traditional Tamil regions in the north and east of the island.

The Tamils had stayed away from both previous Constitution making processes in 1972 and 1978.

Unhappy with sharing of power, the Tamils demanded self determination in 1976 which was later converted to a bloody military campaign carried out by the LTTE. The armed Tamil group fought a guerrilla war to create a separate Tamil state.

With the LTTE’s military defeat in 2009, following the death its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, the moderate Tamils parties have consented to the realisation of Tamil demands through consultation.

According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the civil war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

According to UN figures, up to 40,000 civilians were killed by security forces during Rajapaksa’s regime that brought an end to the three-decade long civil war. (PTI)

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Comments - 29

tuan Monday, 31 December 2018 03:24 PM

you spread more hate

Real Peace Monday, 31 December 2018 04:40 PM

The TNA says they want a solution within an undivided and indivisible country. What’s your problem, sir?

Support Monday, 31 December 2018 05:41 PM

All okay for MR to get the support of Prabakaran to win the 2005 presidential elections!!!

ANTON Monday, 31 December 2018 03:36 PM

PRIME MINISTER HAS ALREADY PROMISED TO DO THAT, ,,...... PRIORITY TO BUDDHISTS AND THE REST TO OTHERS.

Raj K Monday, 31 December 2018 03:36 PM

Shaky Government better than an illegal family government. MR playing his famous race card again; good Luck!

Rangay Monday, 31 December 2018 03:42 PM

Sin for him men, nothing to do

Lord Wolfstein Monday, 31 December 2018 03:43 PM

My dear dumped dictator. This is democracy.

Lord Pakyam Tuesday, 01 January 2019 07:10 PM

Mate, hold elections to see the outcome and see the return of MR. Your fear is understandable.

Jack Monday, 31 December 2018 03:45 PM

Opened his dirty mouth and started dirty politics

Unchikun Monday, 31 December 2018 03:47 PM

Good! So good!

Nadia Monday, 31 December 2018 03:52 PM

“They should not be allowed to achieve through Constitution what they could not achieve through war,” says the man who tried to go outside the Constitution to achieve his personal means.

Karu Monday, 31 December 2018 04:01 PM

MR should talk of Hamantota harbour sellout to China for our inability to repay his borrowing.

Sodha Monday, 31 December 2018 04:01 PM

You're trying to regain power by spreading racism in favourable areas. Shame

Ronnie Bugger Monday, 31 December 2018 04:09 PM

Why are you treating the people in the North and East as venom. Try to understand that they are people among them who a Southerner is not worthy to hold a candle to.

dulan Monday, 31 December 2018 04:09 PM

TNA is not asking for a separate state .Is it bad to give a proper devolved area for Tamils to manage without Sinhalese and Army breathing down their necks for ever?

pradeep Monday, 31 December 2018 05:16 PM

great comment. Thank you Dulan

Damith Monday, 31 December 2018 04:11 PM

As a father of two sons be the side of your critical son while he dies

Pohottuwa Monday, 31 December 2018 04:11 PM

Dear opp leader, UNP is gaining political mileage bcz of your greediness for power.

Shiran Monday, 31 December 2018 04:12 PM

Why cannot the UPFA/SLPP understand that the head of the Cabinet is their Leader so orders cannot proceed without his consent. Secondly parliment is full of Singhala people who can vote against any thing that is against the country and it's culture. Do remember the TNA is a party for it's community and asking, seeking and demanding what they want for it's people. Their demands may not justify but they are doing it and you and the rest of your kind in the parliment have always seeking things only for you and your families. So don't label the MP's who demand something for their kind as traitors and terrorists. People like you and your kind are the true traitors and terrorists. Your stupidity is only making you earn hatred an curses only.

nalin Monday, 31 December 2018 05:15 PM

well said Shiran. Please translate this comment and spread it among the Sinhala people so that they will understand MR's true selfish behaviour

Rasheed Monday, 31 December 2018 04:14 PM

You will never change, always creating tensions among minority groups and Sinhalese for your political advantage.

sobers Monday, 31 December 2018 04:16 PM

TNA has clearly stated to international community as well as in the parliament that they want a solution in an undivided Si lanka and were not for any division. It is a shame that you are inciting racism to gain popularity. Do not practice hate speech and put the country in a turmoil. Be a gentleman when doing politics.

Ben Monday, 31 December 2018 04:51 PM

Dan Bayada ?

vithura Monday, 31 December 2018 05:21 PM

Sowing the seeds of another anti Tamil riots, the only way the MoRon can now secure power!

Sofia Monday, 31 December 2018 05:31 PM

But all minority parties have to do that to get something - obvious - so what is the big deal you talk when MEP PHU NFF Vasu DEW all hang on to you to get their benefits. In case of Tamils they tried BC pact with Banda and then Dudley Chelva pact by peaceful means, then war, and now a constitutional try. Can you tell us straight how they can fulfil their aspirations - give solutions do not spead hate for votes of the gullible.

Mghn Monday, 31 December 2018 05:53 PM

Don’t start your racism talks to fool the people . First you became a PM illegally through backdoor and sold majority of SL to China??? What do you call that ! Also Ranil cannot do anything without Parliment Majority and President’S approval.

Mandayan Tuesday, 01 January 2019 12:50 AM

Only time he was elected legally was in 2010 when he ran again SF.

GH Tuesday, 01 January 2019 06:03 PM

Ranil and the present LTTE leader Sampanthan are taking every attempt to create a DEFACTO state.

Park Tuesday, 01 January 2019 07:00 PM

If the present government is shaky, what do we call the 51 day government of Mahinda Rajapakse?

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TNA will gain political mileage out of its support to shaky govt: MR

Comments - 29

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