At a meeting held yesterday (5) at the Presidential Secretariat between the Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) and Government representatives, including President
Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, the TNA
expressed dissatisfaction regarding the lack of progress pertaining to the release
of Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) prisoners and the
lands originally owned by Tamils that are occupied by security forces.
Speaking to The Morning, TNA Spokesman and MP President’s Counsel (PC) M.A.
Sumanthiran said yesterday that there has been no progress in addressing the
release of PTA prisoners and lands owned by Tamils. “They are telling us the very
same thing that they told us on 21 December 2022. That was discouraging.”
However, Sumanthiran said that he would submit documents on what needs to be
done to implement the current Constitutional provisions with regard to power
devolution as well as on what needs to be achieved for a permanent political
solution.
“They will discuss the issues on 10 January, during which they said they will come
to an agreement. If there is no agreement by 10 January and if there is no
progress on the immediate issues, then we will have to reconsider our continuous
participation in this process. Nevertheless, since we are discussing Constitutional
issues, I will provide a note that doesn’t require any Constitutional amendment
regarding the implementation of the current Constitutional provisions. Also,
another note will be provided with regard to what had been agreed upon
previously. When we meet on 10 January, there must be an agreement on that. If that does not happen and if there is no progress on the other matters also, then
we will have to reconsider our continued participation.”
TNA Leader and MP Attorney R. Sampanthan, Sumanthiran, MPs Dharmalingam
Siddarthan and Selvam Adaikkalanathan participated in this discussion, with
President Wickremesinghe, Premier Gunawardena, Minister of Justice, Prisons
Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC and Minister of
Fisheries Douglas Devananda representing the Government,.
Meanwhile, during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat on 21 December
2022, between the same representatives, the release of 14 PTA prisoners by 4
February 2023 on Presidential pardons, was discussed. Speaking to The Morning
on 21 December, Sumanthiran said that during the meeting, issues of PTA
prisoners, the release of lands, and Constitutional issues were discussed. “There
are 31 PTA prisoners, out of whom 14 are convicted. It was discussed to consider
their release on Presidential pardons by 4 February 2023. The cases of the rest of
the prisoners are underway. Also, arrangements have to be made and victims
need to be consulted before their release,” he added. Sumanthiran also said that
during the discussion, the release of some lands was also considered, following
discussions at the National Security Council meetings in January 2023. “We will be
meeting again on 5 January 2023, to prepare an agenda on the Constitutional
issues, following which there will be meetings scheduled to be held from 10-13
January 2023,” he added.
Sumanthiran PC, on 14 December 2022, speaking during the all-party conference,
urged President Wickremesinghe to finalise the draft Constitution created in
January 2019.
President Wickremesinghe stated at the said all-party conference that he will hold
discussions with Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith
Premadasa in January 2023 with regard to the report on Constitutional reforms
submitted by a committee led by Romesh De Silva PC.