Pillayan’s stand creates problems - Karuna

Saturday, 28 January 2012
 The government would not accept the demands of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Police and Land powers to Provincial Councils, Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan said.

Muralitharan who is also a Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), told The Nation the TNA should have refrained from discussions, knowing very well that the demands put forward by them would not be accepted by the government.
He said the government was committed to finding a solution to the ethnic crisis and added that it would come up with plans and solutions beneficial to the Tamils.

“I do not know why they want Police powers. Those who demand for these powers have only the aim of winning votes,” he said.
“What has the Tamil to gain, if police powers are devolved? He asked. Tamils and Muslims, anyone can join the police service at present. We could demand for such powers if it was not so”, he pointed out.

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan had also demanded that Police and Land powers be given to the Provincial Councils. Commenting on the issue, Muralitharan said that it would create problems for Chandrakanthan and the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) if he contradicted the views of the government while being part of the Freedom Alliance.