May 25, 2011,
By Franklin R. Satyapalan
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) left the sixth round of Bi-partisan talks, with the government yesterday, disappointed as the latter had once again not responded to its draft on devolution, TNA sources said.
TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran said:
At every meeting we have been waiting for the government to announce it response to the draft we had forwarded. But, each time we are told that the response would be announced at the next meeting.
A TNA Parliamentarian who wished to remain anonymous said that if one were to use a popular but common Sinhala saying, “It has been a case of Balagiri Dosaya Adha Nevai Heta (a continuing case of postponement, not today, but tomorrow).
Asked about the recent statements, made by Presidential advisor on International Affairs and Parliamentarian Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena, who is a member of the government committee, to the Tamil Media earlier this month, that the government had given serious thought to setting up a second chamber, recruiting 10,000 Tamil policemen and devolving land as well as Police powers under the 13th Amendment, which was reported in Tamil national dailies on May 10, Sumanthiran said that he did not wish to comment as this was a matter both sides had been requested to keep confidential.
The TNA delegation is led by MP R. Sampanthan and comprises MP’s Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran, M. A. Sumanthiran and Presidents Counsel Kanag Iswaran.
With the resignation of the former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake from the Committee, Parliamentarian Prof. Rajiv Wijesinghe had been appointed as replacement. The other members are Leader of House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of External Affairs Prof G.L. Pieris and Galle District MP Sajin De Vaas, Gunawardena as the secretary.
The 7th round is scheduled to take place at the Presidential Secretariat on June 23.
The Island