( Singing in Tamil on Independence day)
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s main opposition Tamil National Alliance welcomed the national anthem being sung at national day celebrations as a “giant step” towards reconciliation in a country emerging from decades of Ethnic war.
TNA legislator and spokesman M. A. Sumanthiran said he hoped that same spirit will be maintained in resolving the long-standing demands of the Tamils to have a greater degree of autonomy in the regions where they are concentrated.
He said Thursday’s winding up of national day celebrations with the national anthem in Tamil as a symbolic more with much deeper meaning.
“It is an inclusive approach. Goes with what the President said last year and this year,” Sumanthiran said.
“It may be a small symbolic thing, but a very important step in telling the Tamil speaking people that they are equal members of this country and the state recognises that. It is in fact a giant step from that perspective. I hope more substantial issues that remain to be resolved will be resolved from that perspective.”
Tamils began attending national day celebrations from last year after President Maithripala Sirisena came to power. (COLOMBO, Feb 4, 2016)