Sri Lanka: TNA has no faith on Mahinda’s probe

David Crane, Sir Geoffrey Nice, Sir Desmond

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says it has no faith in the Presidential Commission on missing persons even after the government broadened its mandate to investigate civilian deaths during the war.

TNA MP Suresh Premachandran noted that the mandate of Presidential Commission had been expanded only after the UN Human Rights office launched an investigation on the war.Premachandran also recalled that the government had on previous occasions appointed commissions and named international international experts to overlook the investigations yet those attempts ended in failure.

TNA willing to cooperate with South Africa – Suresh Premachandran

Suresh Premachandran

The TNA claimed that foreign delegates including the South African special envoy Cyril Ramaphosa who visited Sri Lanka recently have met the TNA to discuss the Tamil national issue which shows that internationally the TNA is recognised as the representative of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. TNA MP Suresh Premachandran told  that as the elected representatives of the Tamil people, they are willing to cooperate with the South African government if they mediate between the government and the TNA to resolve the Tamil national issue.

TNA Will Be The First Party To Meet Cyril Ramaphosa

The Tamil National Alliance will be the first party  to meet Cyril Ramaphosa,  South African envoy to Sri Lanka who will be visiting Colombo tomorrow for discussions pertaining to the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Speaking to Asian Mirror,  TNA spokesman Suresh Premachandran said they would be meeting Cyril Ramaphosa in a hotel in the capital city of Colombo soon after the latter's arrival. At the meeting, the two parties will discuss the post-war issues and the path to reconciliation process .

TNA and TNPF protest in Jaffna against attacks on Muslims

A protest against the recent attacks on Muslims in Aluthgama, took place in Jaffna today, including a cross-party groups from the TNA and TNPF, as well as local Muslim organisations, reports Uthayan.
Protestors called for the Sri Lankan government to bring those responsible for the attacks and killings to justice. The TNA MP S. Sritharan, the TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, the NPC Minister of Agriculture, P Ayngaranesan, and the TNPF General Secretary S. Kajendran, as well as many others.
Protesters shouted slogans and held placards reading: "Will ethnic cleansing bring reconciliation?", "We do not want another Black July" and "people of Aluthgama, Peruvalai need justice".
TG

TNA condemns Alutgama violence against Muslims

''I have seen the video of a speech made by a Venerable Monk. It was a very vitriolic speech, a very violent speech; a speech urging the people to take to violence, insulting members of a particular community and saying that the police and the armed forces of this country are Sinhala. Consequent to that speech where the people were set up, there was a loud applause from the people. There was a procession and when the procession was taking place, shops were attacked, houses were attacked, mosques were attacked, people were attacked and a large number of people were injured; two people have died and immense damage has been caused to Muslims. ''  - R. Sampanthan

United Nations Investigation is against both the Crimes of the LTTE and the Crimes of the Regime”- TNA

Moon backs UNHRC investigation

Rajavarothayam Sampanthan M.P.

I wish to make a statement to place on record the position of the Tamil National Alliance regarding the Motion that has been put forward for debate and related matters of public importance. It is indeed ironic that the government now at this late stage seeks the imprimatur of Parliament for its own dire failings. This government, which has so brazenly turned Parliament into an object of ridicule – by enticing unscrupulous members of the opposition to cross over for personal gain and by providing executive posts to almost half the members of the house – now turns to Parliament on a question of fundamental importance to the country.

Sri Lanka communal riots: Pre- planned attack against Muslims- TNA

Tamil Nation Alliance today called upon government to take legal action against individuals responsible for the riots reported in the Dharga town in Aluthgama and Beruwela areas.

TNA consider this issue as a pre planned attack against Muslim nationals.

TNA leader R.Sambanthan released special statement on this tense situation,

Statement follows:

TNA PC Shivajilingam writes to Modi requesting Federal soulution

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member M.K. Shivajilingam says the Tamil people do not believe that the 13 Amendment to the constitution could lead to an equitable political solution that meets the aspirations of the Tamil people.

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shivajilingam says India should push Sri Lanka to work towards a solution which can, at the minimum, offer a true federal autonomy to the Tamils in a single merged North-East special region.

International war crimes probe: International war crimes probe

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will leave no stone unturned to provide evidence against the government, if an international war crimes probe is held against it by the international community.
" This is a very serious situation and it is up to the representatives of the war affected people of the North and the East to provide evidence against the government in the event of a war crimes probe being held at international level," TNA spokesman and Jaffna District MP Suresh Premachandran told Ceylon Today last night.

Sri Lanka: 13A is not an Appendix - M.A. Sumanthiran

In an interview with Ceylon Today, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran, said the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is not an Appendix. "The government should abide by the Constitution and ensure the full implementation of the Amendment before thinking of revisiting it to consider devolving police powers to the provinces.

 Following are excerpts:

Sri Lanka : TNA, SLMC to jointly work on N&E issues

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have decided to join hands and work towards finding a solution to the problems faced by the people of the North and East. Parliamentarians of the two Parties met at the Kalmunai Municipal Council on Friday (30) to discuss the possibility of working together.

TNA appeals to CM Jayalalitha: Help us to achieve peace based on justice and equality

TNA leader Sampanthan ( The Hindu)

TNA leader Sampanthan writes to TN Chief Minister Jayalalitha

Dear Chief Minister,

I write to you as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance , democratically elected to substantially representate the Tamil People, particularly in the North East of SriLanka, for instance in the last election held in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), despite the election being held under the intimidatory presence and involvement of the armed forces as concluded by both international and local observers, the TNA secure 30 out of 38 seats in the NPC.

.....And the Rajapaksas will win.- Tisaranee Gunasekara

Rajapaksa in India (file photo)

''If the TNA leaders also place their demands outside this ‘Indian scale’, they will be seen by Delhi as part of the problem and not as part of the solution. Plus they will be giving the Rajapaksas an excellent card to subvert a political solution and maintain status quo. The Rajapaksas’ addictive dependence on China means that someday Modi-India will have to focus on Sri Lanka. If democratic Tamils succumb to the malaise of maximalism, they may miss that historic opportunity. The path to a just and equitable peace will close.
And the Rajapaksas will win.'' 

Tangled Webs by Tisaranee Gunasekara

R. Sampanthan to Narendra Modi: Rajapaksa is violating all our rights

Excessively disproportionate, oppressive
presence of the military (File photo)

R. Sampanthan

I write to you as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, the political formation in Sri Lanka democratically elected at different levels of government, to substantially represent the Tamil people particularly of the North East in Sri Lanka. We extend to you on behalf of the Tamil People is Sri Lanka our warmest congratulations on your resounding victory at the recently concluded elections to the Loke Sbha and on your appointment to the high office of the Prime Minister of Bharat – India. We extend to you and to your government our very sincere best wishes for the successful discharge if your onerous responsibilities.

TNA has rallied to promote terrorism in the Council. This is proof TNA are terrorists," - Minister

Rallied to promote terrorism,Trying to destabilize country's reconciliation process - Daily News

In passing numerous resolutions and adopting them in the Northern Provincial Council demanding the withdrawal of the ban imposed by Sri Lanka on foreign terrorist organizations and individuals that have links with the Tamil Diaspora, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members have committed an act of gross treason under the Constitution, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W. D. J. Seneviratna said yesterday.

South Africa's envoy lies about meeting with Colombo-based diplomats amid secrecy and delay in Ramaphosa mission

Geoff Doidge

However, High Commissioner Doidge claimed that no such meeting had taken place and dodged questions posed to him by the Sunday Times. “We don’t discuss our initiatives with others. This is a matter between the Sri Lanka Government and the Government of South Africa. There is no reason for us to discuss such issues with the diplomatic community. We have no reasons at all to discuss them and there was no such meeting.”

Northern Provincial Council adopts 5 resolution re International Investigation,political solution and listing diaspora orgs

Tamils vote for autonomy ( Reuters)

Resolution No 4

1.We request that arrangements are made to create a new constitution for Sri Lanka with the assistance from the International Community to resolve the Tamil national ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka recognizing self-determination of Tamil people, and offering, at the minimum, a federal setup for a sovereign Tamil nation constituting the merged Northern and Eastern provinces.
2.We wish to inform the International Community that the Tamil people have always been ready to find a political solution ever since the island of Sri Lanka got its independence.
3.This Council is pleased to bring these resolutions to the notice of the International Community.

Full text of 5 resolutions adopted by Northern Provincial Council

TNA calls for end to state oppression at May Day Rallies

TNA May day in Jaffna ( Uthayan)

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called for an end to the Sri Lankan state’s oppression, and for the Tamil people’s right to self-determination, in a series of events across the North-East yesterday marking May Day.

In rallies in Chavakachcheri, Kilinochchi, and Batticaloa, Tamils demanded an end to the state’s land grabs and militarisation in the North-East, stating that it was oppressing Tamil workers and reducing them to unemployment.” The voice of our Tamil people will soon be heard telling the troops to get out of our land, whether that’s our President or the military they can’t stay in our land.. The military – that we don’t want – will need to leave soon!” Northern Provincial Chief Minister, C.V.Wigneswaran told crowds gathered at the the TNA’s main event in Chavakachcheri.

No room For LTTE To Regroup In Sri Lanka Or Overseas – Suresh Premachandran

S. Premachandran (© S.Deshapriya)

With the military claiming to have shot dead Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias Gobi and two others who were said to be attempting to revive the LTTE in the North, several Tamil political parties and civil society organisations have raised doubts on the possibility of any such rebellious activities. According to some, the whole incident seems like an attempt by the government to maintain a strong military presence in the North. While the government says there is a fear of the LTTE regrouping in the country, TNA MP Suresh Premachandran speaking to The Sunday Leader insisted that there was absolutely no space for the LTTE to regroup in Sri Lanka or overseas.

Sri Lanka: EPDP backs TNA resolution opposing land acquisition

Protest against land grab in Jaffna ( Tamilnet photo)

A resolution demanding an immediate end to the Sri Lankan government’s forcible acquisition of private lands in Valikamam, Jaffna, and the return of seized lands to their owners was passed unanimously at a meeting of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting on Monday.

Reflecting the intense public anger over the land seizures, the resolution tabled by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was supported by the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP, a key pro-government paramilitary group-cum-political party). However, the EPDP defended the government on other seizures also discussed, prompting criticism from those who attended the meeting.