Tamil National Alliance (TNA), on Saturday (25) reiterated its adherence to the right to self determination for Tamils and the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces under federal structure.

While pointing out that Tamil-speaking Muslims would be entitled to be beneficiaries of "all power-sharing arrangements in the North-East," the Alliance, in its manifesto released on Saturday, said "this will no way inflict any disability on any people." 

R. Sampanthan, TNA leader, who released the coalition's manifesto for the Parliamentary elections near a Anjaneyar temple in Maruthanamadam, asserted that “there is no way out.”

He made this observation, while replying to a query on the principal political formations of Sri Lanka accepting the TNA’s demands on the right to self determination and federalism. “I am hopeful that they will realise that majoritarianism is not a solution to the country’s national problem.” he said, adding that the formations would accept the Alliance’s position reflected through the manifesto.

Asked whether the TNA would make the acceptance of its demands as a pre-condition to getting its support in the post-election scenario, Mr Sampanthan replied in the negative and said the Alliance would engage itself with everyone. Its approach would be “positive and constructive.”

(With inputs from The Hindu)