Lanka govt opposed to federalism for devolving political power

PTI | 10:07 PM,Jul 07,2011

Colombo, Jul 7 (PTI) The government is opposed to federalism to devolve power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka in a bid to address the political aspirations of the minority ethnic community in the country.The government would not offer a federal solution to the country's ethnic problem, senior minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament today.De Silva, who is a member of the government's panel which is currently engaged in talks with the main Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said the government stands opposed to federalism as a form of devolving political power to Tamil minority."However we are for a negotiated solution by talking to all parties and seeking their views. It must be a sustainable solution," the minister stressed.De Silva said a majority in the country would oppose a federal solution.He was responding to a remark by the main opposition UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella who said that UNP was not averse to a federal solution.The UNP under Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership between 2002 and 2004 talked to the LTTE through Norway's facilitation.The LTTE had agreed during the talks that they would explore a federal solution to end the ethnic strife.However, the UNP's willingness to arrive at a federal solution saw them being ousted from power with the majority Sinhalese overwhelmingly disapproving the Norwegian facilitation and the federal solution it sought to achieve.The LTTE waged a bloody three-decade civil war for a separate state for the Tamils of Sri Lanka, alleging discrimination against the minority community at the hands of the majority Sinhalas.But the Lankan military crushed the rebels and ended the ethnic conflict that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
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Sangakkara speech lands Sri Lanka Cricket in trouble

British Broadcasting Corporation 
Wednesday, 6 July 2011 By Saroj Pathirana
 
BBC Sinhala service Sangakkara says Sri Lanka need to have better cricket administration

 

When Kumar Sangakkara took to the podium to deliver the annual Cowdrey lecture at Lord's he was fully aware that the words he had prepared would send a shockwave through Sri Lanka's cricket establishment.

But by voicing his belief that the development of the game in Sri Lanka has been hindered by constant turmoil off the pitch, he was merely echoing the thoughts of many fans.
Cricket in Sri Lanka has been overseen by interim administrations regularly hired and fired by ministers who have also launched many investigations into allegations of corruption.
None of the subsequent reports were ever made public, though, and no former official has ever been charged.
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