Sirisena Govt. LACKS the will to help Tamils: Wigneswaran

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, has accused the country’s Central government of ‘not having the will’to help Tamils or minorities.

Pointing out that this had been the “characteristic” of what had been taking place in the country, Mr. Wigneswaran told an international tele-press conference on Thursday night that “the Central government of Sri Lanka would not do anything towards the minorities or the Tamils unless they are forced to do something.”

The conference was organised by the Oakland Institute, an American policy think-tank, in connection

with the release of two reports on a range of issues concerning Tamils. There had to be “international pressure” on the government, he insisted.According to him, the land released by theArmy, which continues to control “fertile lands” in the Northern Province was “infertile.” Referring to a star hotel being maintained by the Army in the Province, the Chief Minister recalled that President Maithripala Sirisena had made an offer to him to take over the hotel and run it as a conference hall. State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene had told The Hindu a few days ago that no decision had yet been taken as there were two views within the government on the issue.

As for the presence of security forces in this province, the Chief Minister said though there had been a general call urging soldiers to get back to barracks, there was “no exodus of soldiers from the Northern Province, which is Perceivable by anyone.”

(The Hindu)