Author: TELO Admin

To assist Sri Lanka amid the ongoing economic crisis, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution piloted by Chief Minister MK Stalin seeking permission from India’s Ministry of External Affairs to supply rice and essential medicines to the island country.

The state unit of the BJP has welcomed the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu assembly and also the help being provided by the people of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka.

The resolution was unanimously passed by the house, including the opposition AIADMK and the BJP.

Interestingly, apart from extending support to the government’s resolution, Deputy Leader of the Opposition AIADMK O Panneerselvam also pledged Indian rupees 50 lakh in his personal capacity, to be extended as an aid to Sri Lankan Tamils.

The chief minister, in the Assembly, underscored that Tamil Nadu has not received any official communication on its earlier requests seeking the Centre’s nod to send the supplies.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai thanked the Tamil Nadu chief Minister by saying, “The Central Government had followed the ‘Neighbourhood First policy’ to cement bonds with its neighbours. It is ready to walk that extra mile to help Sri Lanka out of the current crisis, well before the resolution in the Tamil Nadu assembly was passed. We are hopeful that the Government of Tamil Nadu will now hand over the aid package as in the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu to the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure smooth passage to Sri Lanka without insisting on delivering it directly politicising the standard protocols.”

The State BJP chief further mentioned in his official communique, “Despite being in power and a position of command, they put no effort into rescuing the Tamil people from the war zone. Our concern is that this resolution passed yesterday should not be another record ‘2-hour fast-type situation’ orchestrated to create a mirage that the DMK worked hard for ensuring ceasefire during the Civil War in Sri Lanka.”

Highlighting the discrepancies in the resolution, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief said, “It was rather unfortunate that the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly did not have the information about what the Centre has already provided to Sri Lanka and is providing.”

On April 30, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai began his four-day visit to Sri Lanka. During his visit, he will meet Tamil leaders, and NGOs and will also take part in the May Day celebrations organised by the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC).

This visit is crucial given the importance of the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in Tamil Nadu politics. Mr Annamalai would submit a report of his visit to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda.

This visit by the BJP chief comes after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to grant permission to send food, essential goods and lifesaving medicines to the people of Sri Lanka.

Source: ANI

“To change and uplift the current situation of the country, give the ruling power to Tamil leaders and Tamil parties for one year,” Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation(TELO), Leader MP Selvam Adaikalanathan said.

He said that they will provide equal services to the public without division as Tamil and Sinhala communities. For years Sinhala leaders have been ruling the country. However, with the current situation in the country, we urge everyone including the Sinhala community to support us by electing us to change the current situation in the country.

“The Tamil community did not elect President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President of the country as they were aware that he cannot rule the country properly. Further, the Tamil-speaking people in the country are severely affected due to the ruling power of the President, as they have failed to pay attention to the concerns of the Tamil community in the country,” he said.

Further, he added that the people who will come into power in future should assure that they will provide justice for the lives of missing persons and people who have been arrested for a long period without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance and all other Tamil parties who represent the Tamil community in Parliament should think about the state of the country and sign the No-Confidence Motion against the Government and impeaching the President.

Sri Lanka’s top Buddhist clergy called Mahanayakes on Wednesday called upon the President, Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader and all Members of Parliament to implement the proposals put forward by them on April 4, to resolve the present crisis in the country.

Issuing a joint statement, the Chief Prelates also warned that a “Sangha Convention” would be convened if the political leadership fails to act on the proposals.

The statement contains four key proposals that should be implemented by the entire political mechanism. The statement expressed regret over the failure of the government and the politicians to pay due attention to the proposals submitted by the Mahanayake Theras.

The joint statement is signed by Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thero of the Malwathu Chapter, Most Ven. Dr. Warakagoda Dhammasiddi Sri Gnanarathabidhana Mahanayake Thero of the Siyamopali Maha Nikaya – Asgiriya Chapter, Most Ven. Dodampahala Chandrasiri Maha Nayaka Thero of Sri Kelayanivasa, Amarapura Maha Nikaya and Maha Nayaka Thero of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Most Ven. Makulewe Wimalaabhidana Thero.

The Mahanayake Theras said that as responsible citizens, determination to act without falling prey to conspiratorial machinery at this crucial juncture is an essential requirement for the country’s sovereignty and security.

The April 4 statement said: “As Mahanayaka Thera’s we are deeply saddened by the difficulties faced by the entire population of the country today due to the rising cost of living. People are suffering due to the difficulty in obtaining essential food items and medicines as well as fuel, electricity and domestic gas. As preached by the Buddha it is the duty and responsibility of the government to work for public safety by fulfilling the basic needs of the people based on the “Dasa Raja Dharmaya”.

“Therefore, we strongly believe that it is the duty of the government to avoid all unnecessary expenditure, unnecessary ministerial privileges to alleviate the economic pressure on the people at this time of trouble and to provide the necessary relief to the people expeditiously in order to fulfill the basic needs and ensure public welfare”.

The Mahanayaka Thera’s further said that they believe this massive economic crisis can only be resolved through the proper management of public finances, the elimination of corruption, the implementation of development projects based on public needs and the building of a more appropriate domestic economic model for the country based on sustainable national policies.

“The unbearable rise in the cost of living has led to the creation of unprecedented socio-economic crises in the country. In the Kutadanta Sutta it is emphasized that when the basic needs are not met, the citizen is naturally tempted to commit various unjust acts such as theft, kidnapping, corruption, fraud and murder.”

“As insensitive decision-making on public grievances exacerbates public unrest, the government must seek to win the trust of the people by intelligently understanding the aspirations of the people about the nature of the crisis, flexibly seeking expert advice, and finding solutions through a proper mechanism acceptable to the public”.

The Mahanayaka Theras further said that if such measures are not taken it will lead to new crises.

“Therefore, we believe that patience and intelligence are needed to find solutions to the various problems that have arisen in the country. We have a proud history as a proud nation that has been united and resolute in resolving various crises in the country. A case in point is the service rendered by Sri Lankans who sacrificed even their salaries to save the people from the recent global corona epidemic,” the Mahanayake Thera’s said.

The Chinese government has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka to help the country cope with the current difficulties, news agencies reported.

The spokesperson for China International Development Cooperation Agency, Xu Wei, on Tuesday, said China had noticed Sri Lanka’s economic difficulties and was ready to help.

Wei said, “We believe that the Sri Lankan government and people will overcome the temporary difficulties and maintain economic and social stability and development.”

Sri Lanka had been in the midst of a severe economic crisis featuring shortages of foreign exchange, fuel, and other essential supplies as well as rising inflation.

On Tuesday, protests had resumed across the country over the fuel price hike.

The protesters were demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the president’s brother.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka had meant a lack of the United States dollars, which had affected imports.