Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today vowed to achieve reconciliation in the country, even as former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa warned the government against any steps endangering the unitary character of the state.

Both Sirisena and Wickremesinghe renewed hope for reconciliation and economic development to be achieved by the unity government which marks its second anniversary next week.

Sirisena in his new year message called for brotherhood and unity among all communities to achieve reconciliation following the end of the nearly three decades-long civil war in 2009.

Wickremesinghe said despite efforts to break up the national unity government, it would not waver in its commitment to install good governance, democracy and economic prosperity.

Former President Rajapaksa, in his New Year message, warned against any action that endangers the unitary character of the state and its territorial integrity.

His remarks were in reference to the government&#39;s efforts to introduce a new Constitution which is expected to grant some form of political autonomy to the minority Tamil community.

The new Constitution is expected to be adopted this year after a nationwide referendum.

The main opposition leader R Sampanthan echoed the Tamil wishes in his message, saying &quot;2017 will be a crucial year in the history of our country&quot;.

&quot;Our expectation, is that we should find a permanent and lasting solution to the national question. The new Constitution in the New Year, should bring about this achievement,&quot; he said.

The government expects the new Constitution to address the demand of Tamil minorities for political recognition.

With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009 the Tamil groups have opted for maximum devolution as opposed to LTTE&#39;s goal of a separate Tamil homeland.

(PTI)

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A new Constitution, expected to grant some form of political autonomy to Tamil minority, could be adopted this year after a referendum

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today vowed to achieve reconciliation in the country, even as former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa warned the government against any steps endangering the unitary character of the state. Both Sirisena and Wickremesinghe renewed hope for reconciliation and economic development to be achieved by the unity government which marks its second anniversary next week. Sirisena in his new year message called for brotherhood and unity among all communities to achieve reconciliation following the end of the nearly three decades-long civil war in 2009. Wickremesinghe said despite efforts to break up the national unity government, it would not waver in its commitment to install good governance, democracy and economic prosperity. Former President Rajapaksa, in his New Year message, warned against any action that endangers the unitary character of the state and its territorial integrity. His remarks were in reference to the government's efforts to introduce a new Constitution which is expected to grant some form of political autonomy to the minority Tamil community. The new Constitution is expected to be adopted this year after a nationwide referendum. The main opposition leader R Sampanthan echoed the Tamil wishes in his message, saying "2017 will be a crucial year in the history of our country". "Our expectation, is that we should find a permanent and lasting solution to the national question. The new Constitution in the New Year, should bring about this achievement," he said. The government expects the new Constitution to address the demand of Tamil minorities for political recognition. With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009 the Tamil groups have opted for maximum devolution as opposed to LTTE's goal of a separate Tamil homeland. (PTI)

Sri Lanka: President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe vow reconciliation

The grievances of minority Tamils in Sri Lanka can only be addressed through a federal system of governance and the merger of north and eastern provinces, northern province chief minister CV Wignewswaran has said. 
 
Wigneswaran said he had conveyed this to the Colombo-based ambassadors including those from the European Union during his recent engagements with them. 
 
The Tamil issue should not be seen by the government from the view point of the nationalist extremists in the south, Wigneswaran said in Jaffna yesterday. 
 
Wigneswaran said that the only solution to the ethnic problem of Tamils is to merge the north and the east and establish a federal government system. 
 
Wigneswaran who represents the main Tamil Party,Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was elected with over 80 per cent of the vote in the northern provincial council election held in 2013. 
 
He said the TNA would not be satisfied with any accountability mechanism that does not contain foreign judges. 
 
Sri Lanka government has opted for a domestic mechanism as articulated by the President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 
 
It called for an international probe on alleged human rights abuses blamed both on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government troops during the final phase of the conflict which ended in May 2009. 
(PTI)

'The solution to the ethnic problem is to merge the northern and eastern province' said northern province chief minister CV Wignewswaran

The grievances of minority Tamils in Sri Lanka can only be addressed through a federal system of governance and the merger of north and eastern provinces, northern province chief minister CV Wignewswaran has said. Wigneswaran said he had conveyed this to the Colombo-based ambassadors including those from the European Union during his recent engagements with them. The Tamil issue should not be seen by the government from the view point of the nationalist extremists in the south, Wigneswaran said in Jaffna yesterday. Wigneswaran said that the only solution to the ethnic problem of Tamils is to merge the north and the east and establish a federal government system. Wigneswaran who represents the main Tamil Party,Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was elected with over 80 per cent of the vote in the northern provincial council election held in 2013. He said the TNA would not be satisfied with any accountability mechanism that does not contain foreign judges. Sri Lanka government has opted for a domestic mechanism as articulated by the President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. It called for an international probe on alleged human rights abuses blamed both on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government troops during the final phase of the conflict which ended in May 2009. (PTI)

Minority Tamils in Sri Lanka need a federal system of governance

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Sri Lanka: President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe vow reconciliation

Minority Tamils in Sri Lanka need a federal system of governance