The Hindu : Front Page : Rajapaksa invites TNA for talks

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Monday, Feb 05, 2007
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Rajapaksa invites TNA for talks

B. Muralidhar Reddy

"Only by joining us, Tamils can be liberated from terrorist intimidation"

— Photo: AFP

CALL TO THE NATION: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa addresses the nation during the 59th Independence Day celebration in Colombo on Sunday.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday invited for the first time the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for dialogue.

Speaking on the 59th Independence Day of Sri Lanka, days after the military captured a key base of the Tigers in the east, Mr. Rajapaksa said the priority now would be on establishing democratic governance in the liberated areas.

The Sinhala people were ready for a political solution on the ethnic conflict.

"I wish to re-emphasise that I know that the Sinhala people in the south are ready for this. We are not ready to give into the bloodthirsty demands of the LTTE. However, at the minimum we should be reasonable and honest enough to agree with Mr. Anandasangaree or the Hon. Douglas Devananda, he said."

Mr. Anandasangaree is the leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front and Mr. Devananda, a Minister in the Rajapaksa Government, is the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party.

Both have been advocating the need for an urgent and credible power-sharing formula to the satisfaction of all communities to weaken the LTTE.

Observers here have noted the hand of friendship offered by Mr. Rajapaksa to the TNA parliamentarians, referred to as "Tiger nominated agents."

"It is an interesting move. The ball is now in the TNA's court. If they fail to respond, they risk criticism," an observer told The Hindu.

Mr. Rajapaksa was unfazed about the criticism over his recent decision to induct 18 defectors from the main Opposition group, the United National Party, and took the opportunity to address the issue.

"Our Government took all efforts to arrive at a common understanding among all political parties and other forces. We strived to establish a political order that would work towards the common good of the country, shedding all differences. If you look around with honesty, you will observe the good omens of the new political order that is emerging."

He appealed to all democratic forces to place the "motherland before one's family, race, religion or political party in the national agenda."

Addressing the TNA, Mr. Rajapaksa said: "It is only by joining with us that the innocent Tamil people of the north can be liberated from terrorist intimidation and the misdeeds of violence and the north could be emancipated. If you are anguished in fear and anxiety and lack in human freedom, however much democratic the political ideology you claim to follow, I must state in all honesty that none of you are free men."

Power project for Sampur

Mr. Rajapaksa announced that the proposed 500 MW power project, to be set up in collaboration with the NTPC, would be located in Sampur, a town in the east, captured by the Sri Lanka military from the LTTE in September.

Mr. Rajapaksa referred to the new venture in his speech in the context of the developmental and infrastructural projects envisaged by his Government in the coming years. "The Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale power plants, the Sampur power plant, the Moragahakanda Maha Samudra, the new airport at Weerawila, expanding the port of Colombo to twice its capacity, new railways and expressways are among these decisions. All this will invariably change the future development profile of Sri Lanka."

The reference to Sampur seems to have caught the Indian side by surprise as no decision has yet been taken on the exact location of the project. As a follow-up to the December agreement between the NTPC, the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Sri Lanka Government on the plant, a team of experts from India was here a few days ago. However, they could not complete the job, as they were unable to visit all the potential sites.

As per the agreement, the coal-based thermal plant is to be located in Trincomalee district. The exact site is to be decided by a team of experts including from the NTPC.

The Sri Lanka Government has identified Sampur in Trincomalee district as a possible location though an NTPC team had earlier identified a site near the Indian Oil Corporation oil complex, near Trincomalee harbour.

The move by the Sri Lanka Government to shift the proposed power plant to Sampur has triggered a controversy, with the pro-LTTE TNA raising objections.

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