New Delhi
12 May 2008
The outcome of a successful election in the eastern province of Sri
Lanka will not only pave the way for implementing the devolution proposals but it is also
a reminder to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE that its adventurism has few
takers, according to the Sri Lankan high commissioner to India.
The envoy, Mr CR Jayasinghe, on Monday told this newspaper the outcome of the
election results is a "beacon light to the (embattled) North". "The election results should
make LTTE rethink and come to understand the folly of its present venture," he said,
adding "it (election) should come as an eye opener for LTTE."
The election results showed even the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), whose
members were once part of the LTTE, has done well and it exposes the futility of the path
LTTE has chosen for itself, Mr Jayasinghe elaborated, adding Colombo now would
further seek to implement the devolution proposals.
"There was a good turnout in the election and the positive outcome of the election comes
after almost 20 years," Mr Jayasinghe said, adding President Rajapaksa is willing to sit
down and discuss with LTTE a political solution of the conflict. Provided, of course, the
negotiation is sincere and purposeful, he hastened to add.
In the election, United People's Freedom Alliance won 20 of the 37 seats in the provincial
council in an alliance with the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal. The opposition United
National Party (UNP) and its allies in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won 15
seats. The polls were held after LTTE was driven from the east in July 2007.
The envoy's remarks amplified what Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said,
that his party's win is a mandate to eject the LTTE from the northern province. Sri Lankan
Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, in turn, has said Colombo "will give [the
north] also the chance of political liberation soon".
India, which has maintained there cannot be a military solution of the ethnic conflict in
Sri Lanka, has so far desisted from making any comment on the recently concluded
election in the eastern province of the island nation. The Ministry of External Affairs
would only say it is "aware" of the developments.
A Sri Lanka-watcher here said New Delhi has "no favourites" and it would be comfortable
with anybody becoming chief minister of the eastern province. He was responding to a
question whether Chandrakanthan Kuhaneson alias Pillaiyan, who heads TMVP, would
be made the chief minister.
Mr Jayasinghe added Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama can be
expected to visit New Delhi soon for extending an invitation to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh for the SAARC Summit to be held in Colombo. The SAARC Summit is
scheduled to be held on August 2 and 3.
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