Open for dialogue with Govt., says TNA’s Suresh

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has said that it was not averse in supporting an acceptable proposal on finding a lasting solution to the ethnic issue.

Suresh Premachandran, who was re-elected a TNA MP from Jaffna, has told BBC Tamil Service that they were open for discussion with the government.

There is some truth in recent media reports stating that if the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) which is a few seats less of obtaining a near two thirds majority in Parliament at the recent general elections, is seeking our support to consolidate such a majority, Mr. Premachandran has said.

He said, however, that they did not have any idea at present as to what types of constitutional changes were likely to be brought forward. He added that if President Mahinda Rajapaksa comes forward with constitutional reforms aimed at finding solutions to the ethnic problems the TNA would definitely discuss such proposals with him.

“If those changes are made with a view to finding a lasting political solution to the ethnic issue, then the TNA will consider it in a positive way,” he has said.

The TNA has already made public its view on what steps should be taken regarding the issue in its election manifesto. Whether the President is willing to discuss the issues based on them, or whether he brings in different proposals, we are prepared to discuss such proposals, the TNA parliamentarian elect has told the BBC.

The TNA politician has added that the Tamils have rejected the call for a ‘unitary state’ and have voted for a ‘united Sri Lanka and hence the TNA was prepared to speak to the government within a ‘united Sri Lanka’ framework.