Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, Douglas Devananda said that he had no faith in the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Tigers as they would conveniently use this period to strengthen themselves militarily in the manner they had done on previous occasions and that everyone was well aware of their tactics.

He was speaking at a discussion with the visiting European Union Parliamentarians this week. The Minister said that an honourable and lasting solution to the political rights of the Tamil-speaking people could be achieved through devolution of power and that the first stage of his party’s three stage political proposal that would prove to be successful was now in progress and that it was a step in the right direction. Accordingly, a Provincial Council had now been set up in the Eastern Province through an election.

Though many shortcomings had been reported, this election should be viewed as a beginning, made towards realising the political rights of the Tamil-speaking people.

He said that the Tigers could not exist in a democratic framework and what the Tiger leader yearned for was a land from where he could carry forward his terror activities.

(Courtesy : Sunday Observer)