TNA Leader and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan had told the UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific  Mark Field that there would be a recurrence of violence if Sri Lanka failed to frame a new constitution. 

Detailing the current political situation to the visiting Minister, Sampanthan said the Tamil National Alliance genuinely participated in the processes of framing a new Constitution. Sampanthan had also said from 1957 onwards there had been various attempts made to recognize the pluralism in this country, but unfortunately, none of those efforts came to be realized.

“The need for a power sharing arrangement has been in discussion over 30 years since 1957.  Only in 1987 with the involvement of Indian Government for the very first time a power sharing arrangement was recognized in the constitution of this country Sampanthan said. “From that time, onwards steps were taken by every successive Government to address the National question and evolve a final solution” he added”.

The TNA leader said “we are seeking an arrangement that will enable people to exercise powers related to their Social, cultural, economic, and political matters based on the principle of sovereignty of the people as citizens of this country," adding that this power should not be taken back in anyway.

Speaking further, Sampanthan Highlighted that need for the Northern and the Eastern provinces to function as one province given the fact that the two provinces represent largely Tamil speaking communities. 

“Majority Sinhala community need not be afraid of the merger of these two provinces as there will be a constitutional protection preventing any move towards separation. The power-sharing arrangements will be worked out within a United, Undivided and Indivisible Sri Lanka," he explained to the UK Minister.

"Fifty percent of the Sri Lankan Tamils live outside the country, and if we don’t find a lasting solution more people will leave the country he cautioned,” he said. 

Answering a question regarding the role of the diaspora members  Sampanthan said that the Diaspora is adopting a pragmatic approach. 

The Minister assured the TNA Leader of the constructive engagement of the UK government and wished the TNA leader all success for all his efforts in framing a new Constitution.  Along with Minister Mark Field the United Kingdom ambassador to Sri LankaJames Dauris and other High Commission officials were present at the meeting.