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| Thursday, 12 February 2004 |
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| CWC to support UNP by Rashomi Silva The Ceylon Workers Congress yesterday ruling out the possibility of forming an alliance with any Tamil political party either from Central Hills or North- East, announced its support to the UNP in the forthcoming general election, saying that the "UNF is truly committed to the resolution of the national crisis". Party Vice President Ramiah Yogarajan addressing a press conference said the PA was inconsiderate about the needs of the minorities and ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with the Freedom Alliance. Yogarajan, a former CWC Parliamentarian said they had a discussion with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The three issues put forward by the CWC were re-establishment of the ethnic ratio for enrolments in the state sector, upgrading education facilities in the upcountry and improving housing facilities for estate workers, he said. "We are awaiting a response from the Prime Minister," he said, and added that they had faith in the Premier who supported the Tamils of Indian origin in obtaining their citizenship. Responding to a question Yogarajan said: "We can see from the current trend in the country that the Freedom alliance will not come to power and given the contradictory stands of the constituent parties even if they formed a government it could not last long." He emphasised that the CWC wants to retain the identity of the Tamils of Indian origin, while pledging to uphold Tamil solidarity. "Our problems are different from those of the Tamils of North and East. We are struggling for our rights, their struggle is about the administrative set-ups." Meanwhile V. Puthirasigamani former PA parliamentarian who crossed over and sat with the Tamil National Alliance parliamentary group said that the insensitivity of the PA toward minorities was apparent when they held 'Janagosha', a protest rally on a Deepavali day despite requests from all quarters. |
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