TELO will not back budget if detainees not freed

The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) which has two members in Parliament, has decided not to back the 2016 budget during the third reading if the Tamil political prisoners are not freed.

TELO leader, Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan informed this decision to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan today. Following a meeting held today, TELO decided to take the position that all Tamil political prisoners arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) must be given a general amnesty. The TNA, which includes TELO and several other Tamil political parties, backed the budget during the second reading last week. The third and final reading and the final vote on the 2016 budget will be taken on December 19.