DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Wednesday said the results of the Sri Lankan parliamentary elections have shown that there is an opportunity for finding a permanent solution to the issues faced by Tamils in that country. 

 

A day after the results were released, Karunanidhi said since the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had secured 14 seats and was the third largest party in the parliament, there was a good opportunity for settlement of the Tamils' issue. 

 

"Let us hope at least after the new parliament is formed there is a permanent solution to issues faced by the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. I congratulate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The result is a turning point in the Sri Lankan politics. While Ranil has secured 45.7% of the popular vote, Mahinda Rajapaksa has secured 42.4% and the balance by TNA and others," said Karunanidhi. 

 

President Maithripala Sirisena has promised to bring amendments to the constitution by which the country will change to a parliamentary form of democracy from a presidential form. 

 

"In this situation, the number of seats secured by TNA will influence the decisions taken by the new prime minister, and this is a good time for the Tamils to take forward their long-pending demands," Karunanidhi said.

(Times of India)