Tamil National Alliance MP, MA Sumanthiran has claimed that Sri Lanka's President has agreed to release land held by Sri Lankan security forces in the Northern province and to release Tamil political prisoners following a meeting on 21 December.
The Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General were also present during these discussions.
The discussions follow the All-Pary Conference on 14 December, which provoked controversy as members of the Families of the Disappeared urged Tamil MPs not to continue discussions with the Government and instead take their case to the international community. The TNA and Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) Leader, C.V. Wigneswaran, also stirred controversy by abstaining on the Sri Lankan president's proposed budget, which would see increases to the military budget.
Explaining his decision, Sumanthiran stated:
"We took a decision not to cast our votes against the Budget [...] because the President has on numerous occasions in the last few days repeatedly said that he wants to resolve the Tamil national question and has invited the Tamil parties to have discussions with him".
The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) opposed the budget.
According to Sumanthiran, five Tamil political prisoners could be released immediately, and Sri Lanka's Attorney General is expected to provide instructions on this. Sri Lanka's president is also expected to hold discussions with the National Security Council on the release of military-held land in the Northern provide on 3 January. The TNA will meet with the President once again on the 6 January to further these discussions.
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