DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Saturday expressed the hope that the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa and the election of Maithripala Sirisena as the new Sri Lankan President would mark the dawn of a political solution to problems of the Tamils in that country.

He urged Sirisena to allow an international inquiry into the atrocities committed against Tamils in the last leg of the civil war and to confer adequate powers on governments in the North and East.

In a statement in Chennai, he said it was against political decency to celebrate the electoral victory of someone in another country. We could welcome the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa, "who had hunted down the Tamils" as it gave a sense of fulfilment.

“Natural justice has been upheld by his defeat. Justice will be complete only when he was handed down adequate punishment. Tamils society and human right activists across the world celebrate the defeat of Rajapaksa, a dictator who took cover under democracy,” he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said Mr. Sirisena, who had secured the votes of minorities, should keep in mind the reason behind his victory and take steps to ensure that the minorities were given power on a par with the majority.

“He should also see to it that Tamils are given more power than what has been promised in the 13 th amendment. Demilitarisation of North-East and providing basic amenities including education and health services should be his priority,” he said.

Karunanidhi wanted the Sri Lankan Government to give Tamil language a status on par with Sinhala and to ensure that the livelihood of Tamil fishermen was not affected by the Sri Lankan Navy.
(The Hindu)