The Tamil National Alliance has demanded an explanation from the government on the statement of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, that there was little scope of going beyond the current levels of devolution.
Describing Mr.Gotabaya, brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as “an important policy-maker in the Government,” and quoting statements of his other brother and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the TNA asked the government to explain, which of the brothers spoke for the government.
“Minister Basil Rajapaksa has been quoted… as having said that a Parliamentary Select Committee is the best method to find a political solution to the national question. He says that in this way, we can find a political solution that is acceptable to all communities in the country, and has invited the Tamil people to have faith in this process,” M.A. Sumanthiran, TNA National List MP said.
“The Defence Secretary takes up a diametrically opposite view and declares it in public. Therefore, we wish to pose this question to the Government: how do you reconcile this policy statement of the Defence Secretary, with your avowed commitment to finding a political solution, through a Parliamentary Select Committee process? The Government must clearly state their position with regard to devolution of power and political solution, in the background of this statement. How can Minister Basil Rajapaksa call on the Tamil people to have faith in the Parliamentary Select Committee process while his brother the Defence Secretary, states categorically that there is nothing more that needs to be done in terms of devolution?” he asked.
Though constitution of a Parliamentary Select Committee was being rushed through, the TNA said that it was yet to be informed about the Terms of Reference of the proposed Committee “which is said to be for the purpose of finding a long-lasting political solution to the national question.”
