| by Nelson S. Edirisinghe
( April 2, 2013 , Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Douglas Devananda. Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and the Secretary General of Eelam People’s Democratic Party issuing a media release states; that the resolution adopted at the UNHRC against Sri Lanka doesn’t in anyway help solve the problem of political rights of the Tamil speaking people and if it is to be so, a conducive environment needs to be created where the Government, the political parties representing Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and all the other political parties could work collectively. It’s through such a mechanism, action should be taken to solve the internal problems as well the problem of political rights of the Tamil speaking people.
In the statement, the Minister further points out that a mother bearing the labour pains herself has to deliver her child, and the outside help sought to solve our political rights problem is somewhat akin to the role played by a mid-wife in a child birth. He, therefore stresses that we ourselves should solve our, own problems through constructive dialogue. And the external proposals would be of importance only if they addressed the political rights issue of the Tamil speaking people. He also says, what Tamil speaking people in need at present is a pragmatic course of action for reaching out to a dignified solution to their political problem. All round destruction caused to the Tamil speaking people in the past few decades should be a launching pad for them to re-awaken themselves to the realities, and to do so every assistance needs to be extended to them to lead a poverty free life, adds the Minister. He also says as he is of the belief that the protection of Human Rights, establishment of democracy and development should proceed hand in land. It is for this purpose he has been working in collaboration with the government right through out, he adds. He also says that he is confident of a fair delivery. However, Leaders of Tamil National Alliance having misled, cheated and rigged the votes of Tamil speaking people have found their way to the Parliament and continuing to deceive the Tamil people even at present, like what they did at the previous occasions, saying at the beginning of every year, that “Eelam” would be given to them before “Thai pongal” and the Mayday would be celebrated in a fully liberated Tamil Eelam. These unscrupulous Tamil leaders are telling fairy tales to the Tamil people only to sustain their parliamentary seats, adds the Minister.
The present TNA leadership with the Tiger terrorists sabotaged the Indo-Lanka Pact, Premadasa-Tiger talks, Chandrika-Tiger talks, Ranil-Tiger talks, and finally Mahinda-Tiger talks and led the country to a disastrous war, causing untold sufferings to Tamil speaking people, says the Minister, and not stopping with that, at the last General elections promising the people of a political solution, gained 14 seats in the manner thy cheated the people at the previous elections, but turning a blind eye to the promises they made to the people, are now enjoying all the parliamentary privileges. And having locked horns with government, are weeping and cheating the people like what their predecessors did in the past so many years. The Government though extended an invitation to the TNA to participate at the Parliamentary Select Committee for arriving at a lasting solution to the political problem, they still have not responded despite the lapse of a 08 month period, states the Minister.
Continuing to take the problem of Tamil speaking people further as a problem without a solution they have made it a point to deceive the people to win the next general election, this is the sole motive of the TNA parliamentarian the Minister points out. Resorting this type of ugly tactics they will continue to be in the Parliament right throughout their lives enjoying all the privileges and benefits their positions warrant, says the Minster. The propositions brought about by foreign countries will never do our country any good, they will not serve the purpose of solving our much desired political rights, the Minister points out.
The Minister also states that we all together should prepare our road map for arriving a home grown solution to the problems that crop up, how complex they may be, and in this regard it’s the bounden duty of every citizen who wish well to this country, to extend their fullest co-operation to the government. The Hon. Minster invites the TNA Parliamentarians to participate at the Parliamentary Select Committee to help government arrive at a political solution soon.
The Minister also states that nothing good and constructive will happen to Tamil speaking people by uttering nonsensical words and issuing media releases, what is needed at the our is to lead the Tamil speaking people in a correct path with clear vision, motive and far sightedness for achieving their goal.
The Minister points out that the best thing the International Community could do is to persuade the TNA Parliamentarians to participate at the Parliamentary Select Committee rather than subjecting the Sri Lankan Government to undue pressure. He also re-iterates that what has transpired today is what the EPDP stated years ago and what would happen in future is also, what it has already has stated. As the history, under no circumstances would not long for any person, he invites the TNA to join the practical process without waste of time.
The Minister in conclusion says that a lasting solution to the political rights of the Tamil speaking people is close at hand.
 Douglas Devananda. Minister of Traditional Industries and S...){kind=link}