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New constitution must not be allowed to fail - TNA tells US Assistant Secretary of State

The new constitution being drafted for Sri Lanka must not be allowed to fail, TNA leaders told the visiting Assistant Secretary of State of the United States.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan met with the assistant secretary, Alice Wells, at the residence of US Ambassador Atul Keshap on Friday.

The constitution should protect and preserve the dignity of all living on the island, Mr Sampanthan said, adding that the opportunity to pass a new constitution through parliament, while the two main Sri Lankan parties were united, should not be allowed to slip.

Those that think they will lose out from the creation of a new constitution are those that incite ethnic division, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran added.

The TNA also spoke of the need for armed forces to release occupied Tamil land and the need for truth and accountability for the families of the disappeared.

Mr Sampanthan highlighted that despite assurances to the international community, the Sri Lankan government had so far failed to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, adding that many remained unjustly detained under the act.

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