Tamil parties decide to walk out of talks with President if demands aren't met within seven days

The Tamil political parties together with the main Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have decided to give President Ranil Wickremesinghe a seven-day ultimatum during which he will be expected to fulfil three demands made by the party.

The parties are demanding the full implementation of the 13th amendment to the constitution, the release of all lands belonging to Tamils in the North and East occupied by the military or other government agencies and the release of all Tamil political prisoners.

Vanni District TNA MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan said the party has decided to walk out of talks with President Wickremesinghe if these demands are not met within the time frame set out. The Tamil parties will meet with Wickremesinghe today and continue talks till 12 January.

The TNA and its coalition partners met at its leader R. Sampanthan at his residence on Monday. The meeting with the TNA leader was attended by M.A Sumanthiran, Mavai Senathirajah, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Suresh Premachandran and S. Shritharan.

Last week the TNA said there was a lack of progress following the talks with President Wickremesinghe and expressed their displeasure at the state of affairs.