Stressing that he has never been a racist in his life, Vigneswaran has told BBC Sandeshaya that ‘Eluga Thamil’ was a peaceful march, not anti government or anti Sinhala Buddhist.
It was only an event to highlight the problems of the Tamils that remain unresolved for more than 60 years following the ‘Sinhala only’ policy, he said.
When asked about the call for a merging of the northern and eastern provinces and a federal system of governance for Sri Lanka, Vigneswaran claimed that would be the ideal solution to end the conflict.
At present, not even the powers devolved to the provincial councils are allowed to be exercised, he charged, adding that the central government has always been the decision-maker.
Responds to TNA remark
When asked about a remark by a Tamil minister and the TNA, he said ‘Elagu Ilangai’ rather than ‘Elagu Thamil’ could be said only in a society in which Tamils enjoyed equal rights with the Sinhalese.
Noting that both his children were married to Sinhalese, Vigneswaran added that he would never want to be an anti-Sinhala Tamil racist.
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