29.6.2008

Minister Douglas Devanada, Secretary General of the EPDP, at a meeting with the Indian delegation comprising of M. K. Narayanan, Indian Defence Secretary, Shiva Shankar Menon, Secretary Foreign Affairs, Moorthy, Chief Indian Officer In-charge of Sri Lankan Affairs and Alok Prasad, Indian High Commissioner said that India’s support is needed to reap the full benefits from the opening of a path towards a political solution.

The Minister speaking further said that his party the EPDP had been demanding from the former Presidents; Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Kumaratunge and the Premier Ranil Wickramasinghe and the present President Mahinda Rajapakse, the four leaders, for the last 18 years for implementation of the Indo-Lanka Accord, but it was only the President Mahinda Rajapakse who accepted their just demands and took steps for its implementation.

The Minister told the delegation that the issue of the political rights of Tamil Speaking People continued to drag on unsettled because the Tamil political leaders did not make use of the opportunities that came their way due to the fact that they sought petty political mileage and were hungry for power. He also said that the political competition between the ruling party and the opposition also contributed towards the protraction of this problem.

He explained to the visiting delegation the necessity to begin with the Indo-Lanka Accord which would prove to be practically successful for arriving at a solution as it had been acceptable to the Ruling Party as well as to the Opposition including the other stakeholders.

The Minister speaking further said that his party the EPDP had been demanding from the former Presidents; Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Kumaratunge and the Premier Ranil Wickramasinghe and the present President Mahinda Rajapakse, the four leaders, for the last 18 years for implementation of the Indo-Lanka Accord, but it was only the President Mahinda Rajapakse who accepted their just demands and took steps for its implementation.

Minister Devanda also said that a Provincial Council needed to be setup in the North as well, comprising of representatives selected by the people as has been done in the East, and for this purpose the Minister requested the support of the Indian Government.

The Minister added that having realized well the present situation and the immense sufferings of the people, the EPDP had accepted the present system that is being implemented.

“Whatever shortcomings there are in the system will be attended to ensure its smooth functioning,” he said.