Swamy asks Lankan Prez to mobilise non-TNA parties

, Aug 10: Janata Party president

met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa here on Thursday and urged the latter to mobilise

parties in the Northern Province of the country other than the powerful Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in order to effect political reconciliation.

Swamy, who is currently in the island nation to attend an international seminar, spoke with Rajapaksa on the ethnic problem and devolution of power to the Tamil-dominated region. He said the Sri Lankan President sought a parliamentary select committee (PSC) procedure to resolve key issues in the reconciliation process.

The PSC is yet to get effective owing to the reluctance of the TNA, the dominant Tamil party. According to the TNA, it could be another ploy of the national government to delay and disrupt things.

The Sri Lankan government was discussing the matter of devolving power to the northern and eastern provinces but questions on police powers and revenue have been major obstacles. Swamy said he told the President to mobilise the non-TNA Tamil parties to contribute to the process in a significant way. The Janata Party leader said he felt that the Sri Lankan government was not ready to share police powers with the provinces.

Swamy said it was time to settle the Tamil problem through positive action after the LTTE was defeated.

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)