Sampanthan entered into a North East merger agreement with Sarath Fonseka with the blessings of the Indian High Commissioner

While the Indian High Commission in Colombo did not come forward either to comment or contradict the Asian Tribune news report appeared on 5th January that “ TNA to decide according to the indication of the Indian High Commission in Colombo”, but the New Indian Express published from India has suddenly come up with a contradiction.

The New Indian Express dated 06 January reported "PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE - No advice from India to TNA," contradicting the Asian Tribune's news report.

The said TNA's reaction was to a report published in the Asian Tribune dated Jan 5 quoting TNA parliamentary party leader R Sampanthan as having told MPs at a meeting the previous day ( 4th Jan) that he had met the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo a number of times and discussed with him issues connected with the TNA's support in the forthcoming presidential election.

The New Indian Express’s Colombo correspondent P K Balachandran quoting a TNA member of Parliament from Jaffna who wished to remain anonymous and reported, " In our interactions with Indian diplomats and officials both here and in New Delhi, we had been told very clearly that we were free to support whichever side was better from the Tamils' point of view".

Balachandran in his report, thought it fit for reason unknown, to contradict the Asian Tribune’s report, which was cent percent correct, as it was not immediately contradicted by the Indian High Commisson in Colombo, with quotes from a TNA source. But for some reason or other the report did not mention of any reference about him contacting the Indian High Commission for their comments.

Following the contradiction by Balachandran, Asian Tribune yesterday contacted the TNA parliamentarians again who participated in the group meetings held on 4th and 5th January and they confirmed that Sampanthan has entered into an agreement with Sarath Fonseka with the blessings of the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo.

More than two TNA Members of Parliament when contacted by Asian Tribune concurred that the TNA Parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan has repeatedly told at the group meeting that the Indian High Commissioner’ s input played a decisive role in the TNA deciding to support the retired General Sarath Fonseka.

Not one, but two TNA MPs categorically told the Asian Tribune that, at every stage, Sampanthan has told that, he consulted with the High Commissioner of India in Colombo, before taking any decision.

Both the TNA parliamentarians told Asian Tribune that Sampanthan did not provide them with copies of the so called agreement he has entered with the Sarath Fonseka.

But those MPs who wanted to remain anonymous said that Sampanthan read to them the so called agreement and pointed out that one of the most contentious clause in the agreement he had entered with Sarath Fonseka was about the ‘merger of the North and East’.

They said according to Sampanthan “North East will have either one Council or more than one council and that shall be acceptable to the Tamils Muslims and Sinhalese of the Eastern Province.”

They said that Sampanthan has anounced at the group meeting that the agreement he entered with Sarath Fonseka was shown to the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo and received his approval too.

-Asian Tribune -