Visiting British MP delegation says resettlement problems still remain
By Our Jaffna Correspondent
Head of a nine-member British Parliamentary delegation, James Wharton, has said a solution to the Lankan ethnic question should be found within the country and no solution could be imposed from outside.
Wharton visited Jaffna with his fellow British Parliamentarians on Thursday. He made his observations while speaking to a group of local media personnel in Ariyalai, Jaffna where the Parliamentarians met the people who have been resettled in the area.
Expressing his views on the political situation in Sri Lanka, Wharton said the political leaders of the country must come forward to find an amicable solution to the Lankan crisis. “We came to know several things about Sri Lanka through the media in our country. So, we thought of visiting the island to study the real situation. We have been briefed on the situation and we understand there are certain issues, particularly certain matters with regard to resettlement, that have to be addressed,” he said.
Soon after the British delegation reached Jaffna, they were briefed on the situation in the North by the Jaffna Government Agent (GA) Sundaram Arumainayagam.
The British MPs also met the Jaffna Traders’ Association. Later in the evening on Thursday, the delegation met the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and discussed the general situation in Jaffna.
Major General Hathurusinghe briefed the delegation on the security situation and on the humanitarian activities carried out by the Security Forces in the North.
Afterwards, the delegation later left for Kilinochchi. The British parliamentarians are also scheduled to observe the development activities carried out in the South.
