Wednesday, 9 July 2014 00:56
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Talks positive: Sampanthan
Discussions centered on addressing national question: Sumanthiran
TNA says S African Deputy President to brief India about progress
Government still mum on Ramaphosa discussions
By Dharisha Bastians
Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa concluded a two day visit to Sri Lanka for ‘talks about talks’ on evolving a political solution to the country’s ethnic question, that the main Tamil party said, were positive despite stony silence from the Government.
Ramaphosa, who is South African President Jacob Zuma’s special envoy to Sri Lanka, as the African nation attempts to drive a reconciliation initiative in the island based on its own post-Apartheid experience, met with the Tamil National Alliance yesterday.
“Talks centered on addressing the national question, TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran said following the meeting, although he declined to comment on the details.
Sumanthiran said the South Africans were willing to share their experiences to advance the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
“The TNA is willing to support their efforts. Mr. Ramaphosa is here on the Government’s invitation, so we hope the Government will support them too,” Sumanthiran told the media.
The TNA also discussed the post-war environment with the South African Envoy, the TNA legislator said.
A TNA delegation including Party Leader R. Sampanthan and Parliamentarians Sumanthiran, Marvai Senathirajah and Suresh Premachandran met with Ramaphosa over breakfast at the Taj Samudra.
TNA Leader R. Sampanthan said the TNA delegation had discussed matters in detail with the South African Envoy.
“He said he would keep India informed of the discussions,” the TNA Leader asserted.
Soon afterwards, the Deputy President of South Africa flew to Jaffna for discussions with Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.
The Government meanwhile has remained tight lipped on its meetings with the South African Envoy after its coalition partners the JHU and the Wimal Weerawansa-led NFF raised major objections about his visit. The two nationalist parties are strongly approved to South African mediation to negotiate a political settlement with Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority.
Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa told journalists hours after the South African Deputy President had arrived that he was here merely “as a tourist.”
President Mahinda Rajapaksa held talks with Ramaphosa on Monday night before hosting him to dinner, but details of the talks have not been made public.
