The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) would hold talks with newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi next month, party officials said yesterday.
The Indian government has agreed to afford an opportunity for the TNA to meet with the Prime Minister and the other leaders by the middle of July. However, the exact dates have not yet been confirmed.
Shortly after Mr. Modi and his Cabinet of Ministers were sworn in, TNA leader R. Sampanthan sought a meeting with the new leadership of India to raise issues concerning the Tamil people.
Apart from seeking India’s active engagement for a political settlement, Mr. Sampanthan highlighted issues such as heavy military presence, land grabbing, alleged plan for altering the demographic pattern in the north in this letter.
The TNA has sought India’s active intervention right throughout to prevail upon the government of Sri Lanka for a political solution based on extensive power sharing.
TNA spokesman MP Suresh Premachandran told Daily Mirror yesterday that Mr. Modi had responded positively to his party’s request for a meeting.
“Most probably, we will go to India by the middle of next month. The dates are yet to be finalized. We will receive the final confirmation of dates shortly,” he said.
Asked whether the TNA would meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during the same visit, he said that meeting had not been scheduled yet.
The TNA leadership also wrote to Ms. Jayalalithaa earlier asking for a meeting.
Mr. Modi met President Mahinda Rajapaksa who attended his swearing in ceremony.
During that interaction, he stressed India stood for a solution based on the 13th Amendment or going beyond, in resolving the political question in Sri Lanka ensuring equality and dignity for all the communities.
This was also the stance taken by the previous congress government of India. (Kelum Bandara)
Modi to meet TNA
