TNA seeks Chinese help

18 October 2012 07:18 am

China as one of Sri Lanka’s biggest funders can help resolve issues pertaining to the militarization of the country’s north and east, a TNA delegation in a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka had said.

At the meeting hosted by Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao, the TNA delegation, led by R. Sampanthan, had complained about the large amount of Chinese funding to the Sri Lankan Military.

“We met the ambassador and explained to him the current situation in the north and east. We complained about the fact that China is the largest funder of the Sri Lanka Army and the Northern Province is today virtually under army control,” TNA spokesman MP Suresh Premachandran said.

The TNA delegation comprising parliamentarians Premachandran, M.A Sumanthiran, Mavai Senathiraja and Selvam Adaikkilanadan had also thanked the ambassador for development assistance given to Sri Lanka.

“We thanked the Chinese government for its efforts at development assistance. However we reiterated the fact that since China is one of the biggest donors to Sri Lanka they are in the best position to take up issues with the Sri Lankan government and resolve these issues,” Premachandran said.

The Chinese ambassador however had been non-committal in his approach and stated that the issues between the government and the TNA should be resolved through dialogue.

During the talks there was reportedly no reference made to the TNA’s ongoing dialogue with India. (Hafeel Farisz)