Sri Lankan government minister and general secretary of the JHU stated that “federalism will never be to the North” at a public election rally, reports Sri Lanka Mirror.
Champika Ranawaka, who is minister of technology and research in Sri Lanka, told the rally at Piliyandala that the Tamil National Alliance proposals for a federal solution would never be considered and instead “the country's unitary status will be taken forward”.
“Federalism will only be a pipe-dream,” he added saying the main Tamil political party would never be able to bring about any change with Sri Lanka's parliamentary system. “A mandate at a referendum and a 2/3 parliamentary majority is needed to introduce federalism, and the TNA cannot do that with 10 or 15 seats,” he added.
His comments come as Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena, alongside other Sinhala parties have come out against devolving any power to the Tamil North-East, ahead of the upcoming general elections.
See our earlier posts:
‘Unitary status needs to be maintained’ says Sri Lankan president (06 Aug 2015)
UNP will protect a united Sri Lanka – Minister (05 Aug 2015)
Sinhala opposition mounts against federal solution (04 August 2015)
Mahinda vows to leave no room for separatism (03 August 2015)
TNA using 'communal issues' to get votes - JVP (02 August 2015)
UPFA rejects any autonomy to Tamil regions beyond 13th amendment (01 August 2015)
Sri Lanka's cabinet rejects Tamil demands for federal power sharing solution (31 Jul 2015)
Sri Lankan election commissioner says candidates must affirm commitment to unitary state (30 Jul 2015)
UNP coalition partner calls for on Tamils to ‘integrate’ with Sinhalese (30 Jul 2015)
LSSP criticises TNA call for federalism (30 Jul 2015)
Sinhala nationalist organisations rally against federalism (30 Jul 2015)
'Everybody should consider this as a one country' says President in Kilinochchi (29 Jul 2015)
UNP reiterates rejection of federal solution (29 Jul 2015)
JVP slams TNA manifesto and opposes federalism (29 Jul 2015)
UPFA election manifesto limits political solution to ethnic conflict to 13A (28 Jul 2015)
SLMC reiterates desire to re-establish Tamil homeland by re-merging Northern and Eastern provinces (28 Jul 2015)
Sri Lankan MP says TNA manifesto threatens country's sovereignty (26 Jul 2015)
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