SLMC favours north-east merger

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 February 2000, 11:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will favour a merger of the north-east provinces if the Liberation Tigers put this as a condition during a negotiation with the Government, a senior member of the party said.

The SLMC has also decided not to press ahead with their demand for a separate South-Eastern Council with a Muslim majority, as it will have an adverse effect on the issue of north-east merger, he said.

SLMC sources said a decision to have the north and east provinces as separate entities will have consequences in the negotiations. This will impact on the aim of achieving peace in the island.

The SLMC has been agitating for a separate South-Eastern Council if the north-east is merged.

Meanwhile President Kumaratunga has been meeting the leaders of the Tamil political parties individually, to hear their views on the planned constitutional reforms, sources said.

The sources said President Kumaratunga has discussions with EPDP leader Douglas Devananda on Sunday and the TULF's General Secretary Mr. R. Sambandar on Monday at her official residence, Temple Trees.