TNA MP: Govt. incapable of solving basic problems, and it cannot solve problems of minorities

By Dinasena Ratugamage

The current administration could not look after even the basic needs of the country, and therefore it was ridiculous to expect such an administration to solve the issues faced by the minorities, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Kilinochchi, S. Sritharan said on Wednesday.

Addressing the media in his office, the MP said that none of the issues faced by the Sinhalese had been addressed as well.

“The government seems to be incapable of doing anything. There is no fuel in gas stations, there is no power, and prices of essential items have gone through the roof. These are problems that affect everyone. There are no dollars. These are things that we have never seen before. The people are angry,” he said.

MP Sritharan said that there were a lot of issues regarding agriculture as well. The government had launched an organic farming drive without consulting anyone and that had proved disastrous for the farmers. After a year of subjecting farmers to uncertainty, now the government had promised to import fertiliser, the MP said.

“Agricultural production dropped drastically. Now, the government says it will only give Rs. 50 000 rupees per acre as compensation but farmers claim that the loss is far greater. Most farmers, not only in the North, but around the country are desperate and struggling. Sri Lanka is an agrarian nation with thousands of years of experience in agriculture. This government has destroyed it within a year. Most people in the South voted for President Rajapaksa. Now, they are protesting every day,” he said.

Given the circumstances, it was a pipedream to expect the government to help the Tamil people, the MP said. “The Sinhalese majority are undergoing great hardships and the promises that were made to them too had been blatantly violated.”

“Tamil political leaders are making demands from the government. But I see no point. The Sinhalese people are suffering, and their rights are violated. The issues they face increase every day. So, what reason do we have to believe that the issues of the minorities will be addressed? The government can’t do anything. It is so incompetent and inconsiderate.