PMK, CPI(M) urge Centre to ensure solution to crisis in Lanka

Chennai, Oct 28 (UNI) Welcoming India's decision to send relief material to the suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) today urged the Centre to continue to prevail upon Sri Lanka to stop the military offensive and find a political solution to the ethnic crisis.

In a statement here, PMK founder leader S Ramadoss said ''thanks to the rising sentiments in Tamil Nadu, the Centre has started taking some constructive efforts to ensure that the ceasefire, declared after the intervention of Norway Peace Committee, should come into force again.'' Dr Ramadoss said the Centre's decision to despatch 800 tonnes of relief materials through the International Red Cross Society, United Nations and Indian Red Cross Society, was a welcome move.

It was a matter of satisfaction that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had expressed his desire to send relief materials on behalf of the people of the state.

Without waiting for the centre to send the relief materials, Tamil Nadu should immediately despatch food and medicines, he said and suggested that the state government, instead of collecting the relief materials from the people, could utilise the state exchequer to help the Tamils.

The DMK government could follow precedents for utilising government funds for procuring the relief materials and send the same to the suffering Tamils in the island nation, Dr Ramadoss said.

More UNI WS KVV KK CS1712