Implement 13A to solve land problems – TNA

Land Commission not necessary

By Ravi Ladduwahetty

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday called upon the government to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution fully, claiming that it contained solutions to problems as regards land allocation in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces.

Asked to explain the TNA’s position on the the government’s decision to establish a Land Commission in consultation with all political parties to solve the issues relating to land in the North and the East, TNA spokesman and Jaffna District MP Suresh Premachandran said yesterday: "The Government has no reason to bring in a fresh land commission to solve the land issues of the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. All it has to do is implement the recommendations of the 13th Amendment which would devolve land powers to both, the North and the East and there will also be no need for a land commission to be brought in as a fresh proposal,"

The government’s position was announced by External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga at a recent media briefing in Colombo.

Premachandran said that the stance of the TNA right along had been to have land powers vested in the Provincial Council so that the allocation and/or the alienation could be done by the Provincial Council itself.

TheTNAspokesman said that his party did not think that the LLRC report would serve any purpose and the biggest priority of the government should be to appoint a commission to investigate missing people.

"This is one area that we have voiced our concern to the government," Premachandra said.

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