Image: Sampanthan led TNA delegation met with the visiting UK Minister Baroness Anelay.
“The strong military presence in the North and their involvement in economic activities, hampering the day-to-day living of the people,” the TNA Leader R. Sampanthan told visiting the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations of the UK, The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay in Colombo. Sampanthan expressed his concerns over Commenting on the release of lands in the North, while acknowledging that some lands had been released. But that the process could be expedited further he has added, says a press resealed issued by the TNA.
The full text of the release follows:
A meeting between the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations of the UK, The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay, and the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Hon. R. Sampanthan took place at the residence of the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives this morning (08.11.2016).
At the meeting, Hon. R. Sampanthan appraised the Minister on the ongoing constitution making process and stressed the need to find a lasting resolution to the national question through the new constitution.
During the discussion, the TNA Leader also expressed his concerns over the strong military presence in the North and their involvement in economic activities, hampering the day-to-day living of the people. Commenting on the release of lands in the North, Hon. R Sampanthan acknowledged that some lands had been released but that the process could be expedited further. The TNA Leader also stressed the importance of the support of the UK in particular and the whole international community in general, as Sri Lanka strives toward achieving reconciliation in the future.
Moreover, the TNA spokesman Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran, who also took part in the meeting, welcomed the role played by the UK at the United Nations in relation to the Human Rights Council’s resolutions on Sri Lanka and emphasized the importance to have such engagement in the future as well.
The State Minister ascertained that the UK government will continue to support and encourage the Government of Sri Lanka in the areas of the Constitutional making process and reconciliation.
08.11.2016
Images courtesy of the TNA.