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TULF leader seeks Karunanidhi's help

V. S. Sambandan

"Very wide support" in Sri Lanka for a proposal "to adopt a constitution like the Indian model"

COLOMBO: Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree has sought the intervention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to solve the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis and invited him to visit the island-nation at the earliest.

"As a matter of right, I seek your participation in solving our problem," the TULF leader said in a letter (dated May 21) to Mr. Karunanidhi. Copies of the letter were sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

"Unlike in the past, today, even Sinhalese people welcome your intervention," and "Sri Lankans want a just solution so that all can live peacefully," the TULF leader said. A visit by Mr. Karunanidhi "at this juncture" would fulfil "the long desire of many Sri Lankans" and "the Sinhalese too will be very keen to receive you. On behalf of the people, I request you to pay an early visit," Mr. Anandasangaree said.

The TULF leader said there was "very wide support" in Sri Lanka for a proposal "to adopt a constitution like the Indian model." Moreover, there was an "opportunity now to have powers devolved to various Sri Lankan provinces like those devolved in Tamil Nadu." He described Mr. Karunanidhi as "the only person who has the capacity to do this."

Referring to the international community's insistence on a federal solution within a united Sri Lanka as the solution to the conflict and successive Indian governments ruling out secession, Mr. Anandasangaree said: "The cry for a separate State has come to an end."

Envoy meets LTTE leader

In another development, the Norwegian envoy to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar met the leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tamilselvan in the rebel-held Kilinochchi on Tuesday.

The meeting was ahead of a visit by the Norwegian Minister for International Development, Erik Solheim and Oslo's Special Envoy, Hanssen Bauer to Sri Lanka later this week.

"Issues relating to Mr. Solheim's visit and the current political situation were discussed during the meeting," the LTTE said in a statement.

Earlier, Mr. Brattskar visited the office of Jaffna-based Tamil newspaper `Uthayan.'

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