TNA discuss call for dialogue

     The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided it will continue to boycott the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) on the National issue as it feels that process will not bear fruit.

Meeting in Vavuniya today, the TNA membership including TNA Parliament and provincial members, discussed among other things President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s open call for dialogue with the TNA.

The President had extended the invite while speaking in Parliament last week on the final day of the budget debate.

TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said that the TNA is still in the dark on if the President is proposing bilateral talks or if he expects them to join the PSC.

Premachandran said that at today’s meeting it was felt that the PSC will not be something which will bring results on the National issue.

He said that the situation in the North and the role played by the Northern Provincial Council was also discussed at today’s meeting.

Premachandran said that the resettlement issue resulting from the army continuing to occupy civilian land in the North, was also among the issues discussed at today’s meeting.

The meeting, which began at 10 this morning concluded at 6 this evening as several members wanted to express their views, Premachandran added. (Colombo Gazette)