News

UNP rejects a federal solution for Tamil issue

29 Jul, 2015

The United National Party (UNP) today rejected a proposed Federal solution?to address issues faced by the Tamils and reiterated that it stands for a united Sri Lanka.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P. Perera said that the UNP will not allow a situation to arise where the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are unable to live in unity in one country.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had, in its election manifesto released this week, proposed that power sharing arrangements continue to be established as it existed earlier in a unit of a merged Northern and Eastern Provinces based on a Federal structure.

The manifesto also noted that Tamil speaking Muslim historical inhabitants shall be entitled to be beneficiaries of all power-sharing arrangements in the North-East.

Ajith P. Perera said that the policy of the UNP and the United National Front is to devolve powers to the provinces in consultation with all concerned and within a united and undivided Sri Lanka.

“We will not agree to a Federal solution,” Perera insisted.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also said that the UNP has no agreement with the TNA and that it never had one even at the earlier election.

Perera said that the UNP is confident of winning the August 17 Parliament election which it is contesting together with its partners in the United National Front for Good Governance. (Colombo Gazette)

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