Tamils in East to benefit from post - TNA Deputy Minister | Daily News

Tamils in East to benefit from post - TNA Deputy Minister

The decision to join the new government was taken due to the failure of the previous government to bring the development for the Tamil people as expected by them, newly appointed Deputy Minister of Regional Development (Eastern Development), TNA National List MP, S. Viyalendiran said.

Speaking to the media in Battaramulla yesterday, he said that during the past three and a half years, they relied on former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government, but the Tamil community was not given any support or development in return.

He said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that he represented and President Maithripala Sirisena had discussions on three occasions, where they pointed out to the President the lack of a ministry for Eastern Development. Although the President invited us to take that responsibility as he could support us, there was no positive response from our side then”, he added.

He said the TNA supported former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s government at the budget and also to defeat the No-Confidence Motion against him. But, the Tamil people received nothing useful or any development in return for that, he said.

“The TNA now says that I am a traitor. But, they should ask it from their conscience as to who the traitors are. They were elected by the Tamil People. But, if they are supporting the government without receiving anything useful to the Tamil People, what kind of an Opposition is it?” he questioned.

According to him, even at present, there are many Tamil people affected and still suffering due to the war in the Eastern Province. But, the Muslim community in those areas has been looked after as there are three ministers to represent them. He said that was the reason for him to accept a ministerial portfolio under the new government to serve them. He said that he had presented the President 11 areas that should be developed in the Eastern Province and there would be allocations for the development of the Eastern Province from the next budget.


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