No change in India’s policy of Sri Lanka devolution, envoy says in Jaffna talks

COLOMBO: Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Bagley met with the representatives of Tamil National Alliance, Thamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani and the Tamil National People’s Front in Jaffna.

The representatives of each party had met with the High Commissioner on separate occasions. Several matters including the Provincial Council Election were discussed during the meetings.

“The Indian High Commission explained that there is no change in India’s political policy,” said media spokesperson of Tamil National Alliance MP M. A. Sumanthiran.

The high commissioner said that there is no change in their policy of devolution and that they would exert pressure in this regard, according to the Jaffna MP.

Leader of the Thamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani C.V. Wigneswaran said the importance of holding the provincial council elections was explained to the Indian high commissioner during the meeting.

“Although we do not receive the required powers through the provincial council, the absence of a provincial council means the Tamil community is losing one of its entities,” C.V. Wigneswaran said adding “We reiterated that provincial council elections should be held, and the high commissioner accepted that.”