‘Vasu instrumental in bringing Wigneswaran in’

August 2, 2013, 10:08 pm

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By Shamindra Ferdinando


Batticaloa District SLFP organizer Arun Tambimuttu yesterday alleged that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was seeking an unprecedented political arrangement with the UPFA constituent, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).


Thambimuttu said that the TNA move would be inimical to the well being of Eastern Province Tamils, though it might help the TNA’s short-term political project aimed at comfortably winning the northern provincial council polls.


The Batticaloa SLFP organiser alleged that the TNA-SLMC agreement was meant to ensure the former’s victory at the first Northern Provincial Council polls scheduled for Sept. 21.


The SLFP-led coalition couldn’t ignore the fact a key partner was contesting the polls in the Northern Province on its own.The SLMC announced its decision to go it alone though the UPFA pushed for a combined team.


Asked how he viewed the SLMC move, Tambimuttu said: "The SLMC is exploiting the situation to its political advantage both in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Obviously, it realized the TNA’s readiness even to compromise its long standing interests in the Eastern province to promote a political pact with the SLMC to secure the North. The ongoing close door dialogue involving top TNA and SLMC leaders is evidence that both parties are pushing for it."


Tambibuttu said that the arrangement could lead to the SLMC dropping its longstanding demand for Digamadulla-based South-Eastern Provincial Council. He said the SLMC wouldn’t feel the need to press for SEPC as long as the TNA accepted an SLMC dominated provincial administration in the East.


Responding to a query, Tambimuttu claimed that a consensus was emerging that the TNA would go along with a Muslim-led Eastern Provincial Council in return for the SLMC backing for a provincial level TNA administration in the north. Thambimuttu said: "The SLMC is vigorously campaigning for police and land powers in the Eastern Province, whereas those spearheading the TNA in the EP remain silent. They realise the danger in the government devolving police and land powers to provincial councils, particularly in the Eastern Province, where the Tamils are in a minority."


Tambimuttu said that the ongoing attempt to undermine the authority of Eastern Province CM Najeeb Abdul Majeed should be examined against the backdrop of the SLMC-TNA marriage of convenience. With the two parties agreeing on a common agenda, strong efforts were now underway against the UPFA administration in the EP administration, he said.


Tambimuttu said that recently the TNA declared in Batticaloa its readiness to work with the SLMC in the EP.


The young politician alleged that Democratic Left Front (DLF) leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara had played a major role in the project by facilitating former Supreme Court Judge Wigneswaran’s entry into active politics. According to him, Wigneswaran overcame stiff resistance from political stalwart Mavai Senadhiraja to lead the TNA group at the northern polls as its Chief Ministerial candidate.


The government was aware of some of its coalition partners working closely with those campaigning for devolution of police and land powers to the provinces in accordance with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Tambimuttu said, adding that Senadhirajah had given up his ambition of becoming the first northern PC CM due to external pressure.


Tambimuttu said that there was provision in the 13th Amendment for two or more provincial councils to merge to form a single administrative unit. Such a possibility remained a reality as long as the government failed to do away with that power, he said, urging the government to review its options in the run-up to the polls.

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