The
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)
Constitutional Affairs Committee
finalized its framework for
solving the ethnic conflict
in the country. The party secretary
general, M.T. Hasan Ali, stated
that the SLMC has prepared a
concept paper on the peace process
after deliberations and consultations
with Prof. Yash Ghai. He also
said the framework of the concept
paper evolved in consideration
of the current situation in
the country. The concept paper
will be officially released
to the media on Monday, July
17, he added.
The leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front, Vigneswaran, is of the
view that the petition filed
by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna,
before the Supreme Court seeking
de-merger of the northern and
eastern province, would only
further antagonise the Tamils
and drive them to the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
fold. Vigneswaran, who is also
a member of the multi-ethnic
expert group to advise the Sri
Lanka President, told The
Hindu, "The latest
gimmick by JVP is a reflection
of Sinhala chauvinism. It is
a deliberate and mischievous
act to widen the ethnic distrust".
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Police reportedly said that forty-two Singhalese
were arrested for supporting
the LTTE. These persons were
arrested for crimes such as
providing shelter, transport
and information to terrorists.
Earlier, the National Heritage
Party also said it is ready
to divulge a list of Sinhalese
people who allegedly have links
to the LTTE.
The Hindu reports that a total of 64 Tamil refugees arrived
at Arichamunai in the Ramanathapuram
district of Indian state of
Tamil Nadu, raising the total
number of refugees who arrived
in the country since January
12 up to 5,051. Of this, 1,380
were children and 1,720 women.
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