A pro-LTTE lawmaker has said that Colombo had a "historic opportunity" now to find a political solution to the lingering Tamil issue.
Appealing to the Sri Lankan government to announce a ceasefire, a pro-LTTE lawmaker has said that Colombo had a "historic opportunity" now to find a political solution to the lingering Tamil issue.
"The Tamil people have been hurt physically and mentally. Here is a historic opportunity for you to offer them a political solution", Tamil National Alliance member N Srikantha said.
Speaking in Parliament, he requested the government to announce a ceasefire so that his party could appeal to the LTTE to release the civilians held in the No Fire Zone.
"We can cooperate with you in this task. Even the LTTE can be tied down to such an agreement," Srikantha was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
Srikantha told the Sri Lankan Parliament that his party was not concerned about the LTTE, but wanted a political settlement of the lingering issue.
The Jaffna district MP, said that his party was concerned only about the civilians, but that the government had branded them as LTTE supporters, the Daily Mirror reported on Friday.
Criticising India, he said that the Sri Lankan government was able to defeat the LTTE with the help of New Delhi, the newspaper quoted him as saying.
He contended that Tamil people were more angry with the Indian government than with Sri Lanka today, it said.
Responding to the TNA MP's charges, deputy Power and Energy minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage branded the TNA as a party supporting the LTTE.
Aluthgamage said Srikantha would earn the wrath of the Tamils because of his pro-LTTE stance, the newspaper reported adding the minister also slammed the TNA MP for his critical remarks about India.
"India is the only country that has come forward to help the Tamils by making various donations. We have to thank India. You have only India left for any such assistance," the minister said.
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