Sirisena govt. does not have will to help Tamils, says Wigneswaran

Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, has accused the country’s Central government of not “having the will” to help Tamils or minorities.

Pointing out that this had been the “characteristic” of what had been taking place in the country, Mr. Wigneswaran told an international tele-press conference on Thursday night that “the Central government in Sri Lanka will not do anything towards the minorities or the Tamils unless they are forced to do something.” International pressure The conference was organised by the Oakland Institute, an American policy think-tank, in connection with the release of two reports on a range of issues concerning Tamils. There had to be “international pressure” on the government, he insisted. According to him, the land released by the Army, which continues to control “fertile lands,” in the Northern Province was “infertile.” Referring to a star hotel being maintained by the Army in the Province, the Chief Minister recalled that President Maithripala Sirisena had made an offer to him to take over the hotel and run it as a conference hall. State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene had told The Hindu a few days ago that no decision had yet been taken as there were two views within the government on the issue. No exodus of soldiers yet As for the presence of security forces in his province, the Chief Minister said that though there had been a general call urging soldiers to get back to barracks, there was “no exodus of soldiers from the northern province which is perceivable by anyone.”