Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament from Vanni district, S. Sivamohan, said that he was cautiously optimistic that the Tamil question would be resolved through a new Constitution.

“We are apprehensive that certain Sinhalese majoritarian groups are planning to flare up anti-Tamil sentiments to stop devolution of powers to Tamils in the new Constitution,” he said.

Speaking to the media after delivering a talk at Madurai Media and Film Studies Academy (MMFSA) in the Tamil Nadu city of Madurai on Saturday, Sivamohan said that the constitutional changes should be ratified by the public as well with a two-third majority after it was accepted by Parliament.

“When it goes to the public for vote, the anti-Tamil sentiments being flared up may defeat the constitutional amendments,” he said.

The Sri Lankan Parliament held its first meeting as a Constitutional Assembly last week.

(With inputs from The Hindu)