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GTF admits TNA suffered serious setback, declares intention to work with govt.
The UK-based Global Tamil Front (GTF), in a statement on the Aug 5 general election says the TNA’s power has eroded on two fronts – TNA could not live up to the expectation of the electorate despite participating fully in the system of governance dominated by the Southern parties as regards the aspirations of the Tamils for autonomy and their need for economic upliftment.
The GTF has sent the following statement to The Island: “The GTF congratulates the election officials, all winning and losing candidates, as well as all citizens of the country for having been part of a relatively peaceful election process, even in the midst of the global pandemic.
We congratulate Mahinda Rajapaksa, the leader of the Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP) for the resounding victory at this election. Mahinda is a highly experienced politician with immense popularity among the Sinhala Buddhist constituents, and he is uniquely placed to address some of the fundamental problems that afflicted this country for decades, including addressing the apprehensions and aspirations of the Tamils and other minority communities. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s rule in the past have often been characterised by an unbridled sense of triumphalism, but presently at the peak of his power and stature, there is a golden opportunity to imprint ‘generosity towards all citizens’ as his enduring mark on the country.
Eleven years after the end of the war, the Tamil political landscape is changing. Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) Parliamentary representation has reduced to 10 from the 16 it had won in 2015, though it unquestionably remains the predominant political party that represents Tamil national interests throughout the Northern and Eastern provinces.
Clearly TNA’s power has eroded on two fronts – TNA could not deliver on the expectation of the electorate despite participating fully in the system of Governance dominated by the Southern parties, both with regard to the aspirations of the Tamils for autonomy as well as their need for economic upliftment. The effect of imposed demographic changes on the electoral outcomes and the differences on the political dynamics between the Northern and Eastern Provinces are also becoming more apparent.
These are serious challenges to the political parties that base Tamil communities’ political aspirations as their defining identity. While it is important that they do all that is possible to collaborate among them (perhaps as a single block) and also engage with other political parties in the new Parliament to protect and foster Tamil interests, it is crucial that Tamil parties strive to articulate a long term vision and action plan that should comprehensively address Tamil people’s political, economic, educational and cultural aspirations in a principled and pragmatic manner.
This is perhaps the most important takeaway from this election for all Tamil parties. Not properly heeding to this powerful message the election has eloquently conveyed could lead to decay and decimation of Tamil nationalistic politics in Sri Lanka.
GTF congratulates newly elected MPs Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and C.V. Vigneswaran who have been ardent champions of Tamil cause and to TNA which remains the leading Tamil political party for the Tamils with Sampanthan at its helm. We also welcome TNA spokesperson M.A. Sumanthiran’s acknowledgement of the electoral setback and their preparedness to address the causes expeditiously, and his call for all Tamil parties to work together in the larger interests of Tamil people.
On our part, GTF would like to reiterate its commitment to work with all elected Parliamentarians and other relevant stakeholders to achieve equality, justice, peace, respect and prosperity for all.”
Italian Naval Ship ‘PPA MONTECUCCOLI’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on 10th October 2024, departed the island today (13th October), on successful completion of her formal visit. The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Colombo port, following naval traditions.
On her departure, ‘PPA MONTECUCCOLI’ engaged in a successful Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with SLNS Gajabahu. The PASSEX involved training exercises in communication and tactical maneuvering, concluding with the traditional cheer ship salute
Latest News
President instructs officials to provide immediate relief to those affected by adverse weather conditions
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to provide immediate relief to those affected by the recent adverse weather conditions across the country.
He also instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to ensure special attention is given to the safety of people in districts impacted by floods and landslides and to provide necessary support for effective relief operations.
The President emphasized that the government will take action to provide necessary assistance to all affected citizens and that local government officials in the affected areas will be engaged to ensure the people receive the required aid. Until such time, the President requested the public to act cautiously.
Additionally, the President instructed the Ministry of Finance to allocate Rs. 50 million for relief services and urged state officials to ensure proper coordination in delivering the relief to those in need.
According to the Disaster Management Centre, 24,492 individuals from 6,018 families have been affected by floods and landslides in 11 districts due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in recent days.
At present, 2,200 individuals from 584 families are being sheltered in 23 relief centres. Relief operations in all affected districts have already begun, coordinated by state officials through the Chief of Defence Staff’s office.
Emergency situations can be reported by contacting the Disaster Management Centre’s hotline number 117or by calling 0112136136, 0112136222, or 0112670002.
By Norman Palihawadane
Massive file retrieval for re-examination goes on at police headquarters and CID by engaging investigators in perusing evidence related to over thousand cases of the past two decades, police headquarters sources said.
The investigators have been divided into teams for what a senior police officer called ‘cold case investigation’ perusing archived documents and some are engaged in re-scrutinizing the evidence pertaining to several ongoing cases as well.
When contacted for comment, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya said that afresh investigation of Easter Sunday terror attacks has been commenced and officers have already started recording statements from various parties including those who had already testified before courts and commissions involved in previous probes.
“There is evidence to prove that many former investigations either deliberately overlooked or missed some vital information and facts. The CID has been tasked with the case reopening process. I can promise that new investigations will yield results to bring about justice to many. For example, the CID is looking to gather evidence from many new angles in the Wasim Thajudeen case,” Weerasooriya told The Island.
Prior to investigations a list of names of persons and officers who had been connected to investigations into controversial cases has been sent to the airport and a special police team has been detailed by the Ministry of Public Security to prevent them leaving the country, the Public Security Ministry sources said.
Among the new case-reopening process are several organized crimes involving some officers from the Colombo Crimes Division. Relevant CCD officials have been found trying to flee the country, police headquarters sources said.
The IGP has promised to overhaul CCD and to appoint a new director to the Division.
Sources within the Division said that many officers have found it uncomfortable to face the probes and there were concerns that some sensitive documents related to certain investigations conducted by the CCD might have been destroyed.
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