TNA says with Indian help it can pressure govt. to retain PC system

By Dinasena Ratugamage

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with the help of India, would prevent the government from abolishing the Provincial Council system, party MP M.A. Sumanthiran said in Jaffna on Thursday.

However, the party was open to amendments to the system which had not been able to address the issues faced by the Tamil people, Sumanthiran said.

Sumanthiran made the announcement, fielding a question posed by journalists at the ITAK office in Vadamarachchi, Jaffna.

“There is a big debate on whether to hold the Provincial Council elections. Buddhist monks are opposed to this. The government MPs make contradictory statements. No matter what, we will not allow anyone to change the Provincial Council system. With Indian help we will thwart any such attempts.”

MP Sumanthiran said that the TNA was open to amending the Provincial  Council system. “The TNA insists that the Northern and Eastern provinces be merged and fully empowered. However, we are opposed to delaying the Provincial  Council elections. We will soon start a campaign to pressure the government to hold elections.”