The Tamil National Alliance has decided not to help the government muster a two-thirds majority in Parliament to amend or do away with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

TNA spokesman parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran speaking to media said that his party would not vote in support of a motion to remove or amend the 19th Amendment. He said that the changes implemented by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution were needed for the wellbeing of democracy.

The TNA wished to speak to the President on finding a political solution for the North East problem, the MP said.

MP Sumanthiran said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had spoken to Indian media about the latter’s plans of attempting to find solutions for the North-East crisis, during his last visit to India. The TNA had stated the need for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution fully as a solution to the problem. Therefore, a need had arisen for the TNA to speak with the President, the MP said, adding that his party would ask the President for an appointment.

He said that it was the hope of his party that the President would give them an audience.