Sumanthiran regrets boycott by Northern Tamils

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who contested the presidential election in 2005 was unfortunately defeated as a result of the Tamils in the North boycotting the elections, TNA MP M.A Sumanthiran said.

He said it was essential to make another effort to fulfil the political aspirations of the people in the North without further delay.

The MP addressing Saturday's opening ceremony of the Enterprise Sri Lanka Exhibition in Jaffna said the Prime Minister had pledged to implement a federal-based power devolution in 2005.

"We see an economic resurgence in the North but the political aspirations of the Northern people should also be fulfilled,” he said and lauded the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and said they had both been consistent on acknowledging the rights of the minorities.

At the foundation-stone-laying ceremony of the Jaffna Town Hall earlier during the day, the TNA MP said both the old Town Hall and the Jaffna Library, which were iconic buildings on the peninsula were destroyed by the then government and the armed forces.

The MP was specific in saying the library was destroyed by a former UNP government in which the current Prime Minister was also a Cabinet minister.

Northern Provence Governor Suren Raghawan said the Prime Minister must contest the presidential election so as to ensure democracy in the North and other areas in the country.

He said the rebuilding of Jaffna Library and the Town Hall should not be a political tactic to woo the Northern people for the upcoming elections.

Megapolis Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said there was no political agenda behind the rebuilding of the Jaffna Town Hall as it was a part of a well-devised plan to modernise the Jaffna City. He said more than 60,000 people in the South was also killed during the war. “The Northern people are not the only one affected by the civil war,” the Minister said. (Yohan Perera in Jaffna)