The DMK General Council meeting on Feb 20 would discuss the issue and ask the Centre to prevail upon the Lankan government on devolution of powers, said Karunanidhi.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi today said the Sri Lankan government should come out with devolution of powers to Tamils in the island in accordance with its assurances.
The DMK General Council (GC) meeting here on February 20 would, among other things, discuss the issue and ask the Centre to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government on devolution of powers, Karunanidhi told reporters here.
National security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon had met Karunanidhi on Sunday last and assured him that the Centre was working with the Sri Lankan government for resettlement of internally displaced Tamils and devolution of powers that would satisfy all communities.
Karunanidhi announced that the executive committee would also meet the same day when the GC holds its session.
On the World Classical Tamil Conference, to be held in Coimbatore in June, he said 4,625 persons, including 464 foreigners, had registered for the meet so far.
As many as 47 countries, including US, UK, France, China, Russia, South Korea, Japan and Germany, had agreed to participate in the event.
Karunanidhi said prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had accepted his invitation to take part in the inauguration of the new assembly complex in March.
Asked about home minister P Chidambaram's reported remark at a press meet in Delhi on Monday last that he would not reply to a question asked in Tamil, Karunanidhi said he must have said that since most of the journalists present were Hindi speaking people.
To a question on the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill, Karunanidhi said the Centre had already said
the Bill would not be tabled in Parliament.
"Certain political parties in the state are misguiding the fishermen community that the bill has been passed. It (bill) has not been passed. If it is passed, DMK will oppose it".
The Bill, among others, envisages capping a 12 nautical mile fishing area ceiling for Indian fishermen and levying penalty for violations.
Karunanidhi refused to comment on the Mullaperiyar dam dispute with neighbouring Kerala "since the issue is before the Supreme Court."
Kerala wants to construct a new dam in place of the existing 113-year-old Mullaperiyar reservoir to which Tamil Nadu is opposed.The Union forest ministry had a few months ago given conditional approval to Kerala for conducting survey for a new dam.
Tamil Nadu had moved the Supreme Court against the survey, but the state's plea was rejected.
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