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Federal structure a cover to achieve Eelam, says Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya
Members of the Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya declared last week that a federal structure to resolve the ethnic conflict was a stalking horse of the LTTE for a separate state, and blamed both the UNF and the Alliance regime for their lenience towards the LTTE.

It was also maintained that since the government has not got a mandate to hand over a separate state to the LTTE, the statements made by the government that the LTTE's ISGA could be a base for discussion was null and void.

These comments were made when a report of an independent and representative committee titled 'A case against a federal constitution for Sri Lanka' was launched last Thursday where several comments on the Sri Lankan ethnic issue were made by the speakers present. The report had been compiled at the request of the late Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter.

"The ISGA proposals of the LTTE have been declared as a blueprint for a separate state by no other party than this present government. However the roar has now become a sniffling and this very same government is stating that it is willing to speak to the LTTE on the ISGA", said attorney-at-law and President of the Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya, S. L. Gunasekera in his keynote address.

Mr. Gunasekera further said that the government had not got a mandate to hand over a separate state to the LTTE. He further warned that if the ISGA was approved it would mean that the government military will have to seek permission from the LTTE to continue its camps in the North and East.

The administration carried out by the LTTE at present in the North and East of the country with a separate legal structure and police force was also commented upon with the prediction by Mr. Gunasekera that the LTTE will not be satisfied with nothing less than a separate state.

Meanwhile President's Counsel, H. L. de Silva in his address said that the Oslo statement of 2002 following the second round of talks with the former government and the LTTE did not include the aspect of self-determination.

He also noted that the only concern of the Tamils in 1946 as recorded by the Soulbury Commission was the fact that they got the right of the franchise and said that the calling for a separate state by the LTTE did not represent the sentiments of the Tamil people.

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