Comprehensive arrangement fulfilling Tamil aspirations needed - EPDP

COLOMBO: The goal of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) is to lay the foundation towards a final solution which can bring forth a status of power sharing at the centre and autonomy in the province, through a three stage pragmatic approach based principals adhered by the party, said a statement issued by the EPDP political committee.

Our stand, according to the political perspective of our party is that only a comprehensive arrangement which can fulfil the political aspirations of our people can be the solution for the issue of political rights, on the basis of;

North and East is the historical habitation of the Tamil speaking people!

Significant powers to the merged North and East Provinces.

An internal Autonomy unit for the Muslims within the merged North East Province!

All political parties are presenting their proposals amidst initiatives being taken forward to find solutions to the problem of political rights faced by the Tamil speaking people.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party also has presented its proposals for the resolution. We, the EPDP, since return to the democratic mainstream do emphasise a political solution that can fulfil the aspirations of our people.

We, during our democratic activities have submitted in writing to successive governments, since the Indo - Sri Lanka Agreement, in clear terms, what could be the solution to the problem of political rights faced by our people.

Same was submitted to the All Party Conference initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We are in the habit of presenting and appraising President Rajapaksa and other Southern political leaders and also before the international community the probable solutions and the sentiment of our people towards the solution of this issue, the statement added.

Douglas Devananda, Secretary General of the EPDP and Minister during his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the 3rd of this month apprised him of what the EPDP has in mind as solution to this issue.

Consensus was reached in the discussion that only the All Party Conference has the mandate to arrive at a justifiable and final solution, although the SLFP too had put forward its own proposal.