India to mediate to resume TNA-Govt. talks

Political sources in Sri Lanka say that India has planned to mediate diplomatically to re-start the stalled dialogue between the government and the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Accordingly, a group of TNA parliamentarians are to visit India during the next few days to meet the Indian leaders there, political sources say.

The sources further said that India would direct TNA to withdraw the ultimatum given by them to the government to respond to their proposals within 10 days.

Meanwhile, sources say that the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh is to visit Sri Lanka by the end of the year and India expects to speed up the process of negotiations before that.

At the end of the 10th round of talks held Thursday, the Tamil party threatened to withdraw from the talks with the government on power devolution if the government fails to step up the pace for a meaningful resolution.  The TNA demanded the government to respond in writing within 10 days to three of their proposals on the structure of governance for north and east regions, allocation of subjects and functions to the provincial councils and the issues relating to fiscal and financial devolution.

In response the government said that "it certainly is not possible, nor is it consistent with the national interest at this stage, to make a final pronouncement on crucial issues, hastily and without wider consultation."  The TNA's warning is seen as a hardening stance of the party, once considered as a proxy party of the terrorist group LTTE, following its victory in the Tamil dominated areas at the local government elections held last month.  The government says a solution for power devolution should be acceptable for all Sri Lankans and cannot make decisions on crucial issues hastily.

Pointing out that the TNA does not solely represent the Tamil community, the government said it has now decided to proceed with the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee. (Colombo Page)