TNA, SLMC join hands to safeguard minorities: Kariapper tells Thamilosai

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have decided to hold discussions with all parties and organizations representing the minority communities to safeguard their rights, SLMC’s Nizam Kariapper has told BBC’s Thamilosai.

The two parties hope to arrive at a consensus after such discussions and hope to negotiate with the Government, SLMC’s Deputy General Secretary Nizam Kariapper has said.

The two parties have already spoken to several ruling party members and they too have agreed to such an approach, Mr. Kariapper has added. He has also reportedly added that the TNA and the SLMC had agreed to join hands to protect the rights of the minorities at a time when the Government was in a hurry to push through constitutional amendments.

Incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa hopes to amend the constitution to enable him to contest another term for Presidency. (The existing constitution allows a person to hold office only twice.) If the minorities agree to support him in this issue, it can be used to obtain several much needed concessions for the minorities, Nizam Kariapper has told Thamilosai.

He has also added that if Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris comes forward for discussions with the SLMC like he did with the TNA, the move would be welcomed by his party.