President Maithripala Sirisena had a special discussion with the TNA Parliamentary group led by Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan in Parliament yesterday.
TNA MP E. Sarawanapawan told the Daily News the Opposition Leader handed over a letter signed by all 16 TNA MPs to the President during the meeting outlining their concerns on the making of new Constitution and unresolved matters affecting the people in the North and East.
He said much of the discussion that continued for over one and half hours was centered around the matters of new Constitution while other matters such as release of land in the North were also discussed.
The TNA group had emphasised the importance of a new Constitution, adding that amendments to the existing Constitution would not serve the purpose.
They had pointed out the need of a political solution through the Constitutional reforms. The President had also stated that giving a permanent political solution to the national question from the Constitutional reforms is his sole aim.
President Sirisena during the meeting had also revealed that he had taken steps to inquire the position of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the Constitutional making via Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The TNA MPs had also briefed the President over the problems in their electorates while also proposing solutions to them.
The President had agreed to bring those issues to the attention of the Prime Minister. President Sirisena had promised to meet the TNA Parliamentary Group again before the end of the Budget debate.
All 16 TNA MPs had attended the meeting that took place at the President’s Office in Parliament.
The President was present in Parliament yesterday when the Financial Head of his Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment was taken up for debate at the Committee Stage of ‘Budget 2017.’
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