Tamils' grievances

Top level committee to address problems

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to appoint a special committee comprising members of Tamil political parties to look into the problems of the Tamil community.

This decision was arrived at a meeting, the President had with the representatives of the Tamil political parties at Temple Trees yesterday.

The meeting was convened at the request of Tamil political parties to discuss the problems faced by the Tamil community. This special committee is particularly assigned to look into the needs of civilians fleeing from the terrorists.

The problems faced by the Tamil people in the North will also be looked into by this committee.

A press release issued by the President's Media Division said this committee is expected to meet every week and it will be coordinated by the Peace Secretariat.

TULF representatives led by its leader V. Ananda Sangaree, EPDP representatives led by Minister Douglas Devananda, PLOTE representatives led by its leader D. Sidharthan , EPRLF representatives including T. Sidarthan and representatives from Ceylon Workers Congress, Upcountry Peoople's Front and TMVP were present.

Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Constitutional Affairs Minister DEW Gunasekera, Higher Education Minister Wisva Warnapala, Minister Vinayarmurthy Muralitharan and Presidential Senior Advisor Basil Rajapaksa also participated.