Opp.Leader meets new UN resident representative

At a meeting yesterday, between TNA and Opposition leader R. Sampanthan and the UN resident representative in Colombo, Hanaa Singer, Sampanthan said communal violence can no longer be permitted in the country and a new Constitution is needed to ensure communal amity. The demand of the Tamils on power devolution is justifiable and within international specifications, he said.

TNA spokesman and Jaffna parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran also took part in the meeting that took place at the office of the Opposition Leader. The Tamils had given a clear mandate for a just political solution within an undivided Sri Lanka and the Government has the obligation to honour their democratic verdict, Sampanthan told the UN representative. Armed violence that was an unfortunate consequence of the failure to find a political solution to the national problem, had made the country lag behind other developing countries that have made much progress in economic development and standard of living, he pointed out.

The country will have no future if lasting peace was not ensured through the enactment of the new Constitution which the majority community does not oppose; he said, adding that it is obligatory on the part of the government to explain to the majority community the benefits of the new Constitution. The approaches and activities of the incumbent Government are very much better compared to the previous regime but they are yet to achieve the anticipated results, he said.

Sumanthiran stated that the anticipated levels of progress have not been made on forced disappearances, the release of political prisoners and release of private lands to their legitimate owners from the possession of the security forces. UN representative Hanaa Singer responding to the TNA leaders said that the UN will continue in its mission of restoring lasting peace in Sri Lanka through justice and righteousness.