Mano says talks failed due to SJB’s lukewarm response

Tamil MPs’ caucus gathers momentum

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganeshan MP yesterday (17) said that he along with SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem initiated talks with the UNP to explore ways and means of bringing the SJB and the UNP together following a spate of requests from SJB lawmakers as well as members of the now defunct Local Government bodies.

Lawmaker Ganeshan said so in response to The Island query whether they acted unilaterally in opening talks with the UNP in January this year.

Asked whether they obtained prior approval from SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to make the move, MP Ganeshan said that they didn’t. “There was no question of obtaining the SJB leader’s approval, since it was not a finalised concrete mission but a mission to check all possibilities. Besides, most SJB MPs informally requested that we make such a move.”

Responding to another query, MP Ganeshan said that during talks with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, they were told of the UNP leader’s decision to nominate persons to represent him and he suggested the SJB leader did the same. The President expressed the belief that minority parties, too, would be there, MP Ganeshan said, adding that they briefed both the SJB leader and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara MP regarding the developments.

Asked to explain the current status of their initiative, MP Ganeshan said that they gave up the effort in February/March this year due to what he called the negative response of the SJB leader and SJB General Secretary.

MP Ganeshan said that President Wickremesinghe never offered premiership to the SJB leader though some speculated and claimed so.Asked whether the failed effort was in any way linked with his effort to establish a Tamil MPs caucus in Parliament and bring the UNP and the SJB together, MP Ganeshan emphasized that there was no connection at all.

The MP said that he really appreciated the declaration made by TMK General Secretary C.V. Wigneshwaran that he too would join the Tamil MPs’ caucus.The former NPC Chief Minister has informed MP Ganeshan of his readiness to back the move.

MP Ganeshan said that as of yesterday, TELO, DPLF, TMK of the north-east and TPA constituents in the South, DPF, WNF, UPF were in agreement to the proposal mooted by him.Only the TNA’s response is awaited, MP Ganeshan said.