TNA leader tells visiting US delegates to hold Govt. to UNHRC commitments

US delegation led by Rep. Ami Bera Member, Congress and Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Non-Proliferation

R. Sampanthan

Sampanthan says Tamil people wants to live with self-respect and dignity in peace, justice and equality in this country

TNA leader Sampanthan yesterday told members of a visiting US delegation that the Tamil people want a political solution based on a power-sharing arrangement such as ones practiced all over the world, cautioning that things could turn bad for the country if no meaningful political solution is found.

“Sri Lanka is my country. I want to live as an equal citizen in this country. Like the Indian Prime Minister expressed recently at the joint press conference with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Tamil people want to live with self-respect and dignity, in peace and justice and equality in this country,” Sampanthan told the delegation led by Member of Congress and House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-Proliferation Chairman Rep. Ami Bera.

The TNA leader said that the work was carried out by the previous Government concerning framing a new Constitution. But the present Government is speaking in a different voice. “The Government is saying that the majority community is not in agreement with the power-sharing arrangements, therefore, we need to look for new avenues to resolve the issues, which is not the truth,” Sampanthan said.  

He said successive governments have made commitments about this matter, all of which are on record, and the international community must act and ensure that the Government of Sri Lanka delivers on its commitments.  The TNA leader said that the LTTE was a creation of the failures of successive Sinhala leaders who could not keep to their promises made to the Tamil leaders.

TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran highlighted the importance of the implementation of the UNHRC resolution which was moved by the United States in 2012. “The matters referred to in the resolution must be implemented both concerning finding a meaningful resolution to the national question and also to address the accountability issues,” Sumanthiran said adding that the issue of the disappeared also needs to be addressed. “Our people are not going to accept any reparations without knowing what happened to their loved ones, and if they are not alive, how they died,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of economic recovery, Sumanthiran pointed out the need for new industries to the north and east to reduce unemployment issues. He further said there has to be a special effort made to build the economic situation of the north and east. “Areas like fishing agriculture and animal husbandry needs to be modernised to get the maximum benefit,” he said.

US official Rep. Ami Bera assured that the United States will do all things possible to ensure that the Government of Sri Lanka delivers on its commitments to the international community.  Member of Congress Rep. George Holding, Subcommittee Staff Director Nikole Burroughs, Senior Professional Staff Member Sajit Gandhi, Military Liaison Officer USN Capt. Peter Schnappauf, Military Liaison Officer USN Lt. James Lyons, Deputy Chief of Mission Martin Kelly and US Embassy Political Officer Joanna Pritchett were also present at the meeting.