Representations made by Mr. DOUGLAS WICKREMARATNE to the Commission of Inquiry on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation at its public sittings held on 0Ist DECEMBER 2010 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies.

Chairman (opening statement)

Mr. Wickramaratne may I take this opportunity of thanking you for having come over here all the way ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from London to give your evidence before this Commission. As a person who has been involved in this ethnic problem ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ so to say ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ for a very long time, I think you could make a very valuable ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ contribution to the matters that come within the purview of our orbit. And I believe you know the general procedure that we follow in this Commission about public sittings ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and sittings in camera. So I take it that you want to give your evidence in public. So you can ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ proceed.

REPRESENTATIONS OF MR. DOUGLAS WICKREMARATNE

Thank you Mr. Chairman. First of all Mr. Chairman and the Members of the Panel, and the Secretary Mr. Atug oda, let me thank you for giving me an opportunity to come before the Commission. I feel greatly honoured. I have a slight cold since I came from London so please bear ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with me.

Chairman

I am also afflicted with the same problem. ____ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Oh! I see. I am not spreading the germs. With yourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  permissionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chairman I will only be making ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ oral submissions because I have not been able to make written submissions as I was unwell. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What I personally have done on this issue for the last over 35 years.

I became aware of this problem ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ I have lived right throughout in England for the last 40 odd years ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ although ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I come here regularly on a visit about 2-3 times a year sometimes. Now I first came ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ across this problem in London many years ago in 1975 when Dr. Colvin R. de Silva was the Minister of Constitutional Affairs. He came over to London to speak at the then existing Ceylon Students Centre. He spoke about the constitution of Sri Lanka and towards the very end of his speech ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was a big disruption from a group of Tamil youths ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·who started screaming and shouting ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at him saying “you are a murderer” and in fact they wanted to physically harm him.

And I intervened and told Dr. Colvin ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…” donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t worry about it they are not going to do ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ anything to youƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. He knew me very well and he said “Douglas donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t worry, these people donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t scare ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ me” and I escorted him to the vehicle that was waiting for him.

And then there was an attack on the High Commission ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ a fire bomb attack on the High Commission ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ and also the Student Centre ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ attacked as well. And then later the following Year ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in 1976, actually at the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ London Oval when the Sri Lankan Cricket Team came to play England there was a Tamil demonstration outside and they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ shoutingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…” sorry I didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t follow thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

Chairman

There was indecent exposure also I think at that time.

Exactly. ThatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s right and there was a demonstration and their charge was that there was no Tamil In ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ team despite the fact that there was Neil ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chanmugam who was playing for the team at the time. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And then when I pointed this out to them they said: “Oh, he is not a real Tamil” . And ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at the match a group of about ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 25 Tamil youths assaulted 3 Sinhala students ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with bottles as well and I went to their rescue. In fact I got ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Police to arrest some of the people responsible. And that is how I knew that there was a big movement coming up ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and I contacted quite a lot of people in London who were running various Associations asking them ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whether ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ couldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  play a role to counter ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this but nobody was interested. So I ended up by a group of us forming the Sinhala Association in 1977 and I became the President of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  started ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by holding a number of cultural events. We ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pioneers ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in bringing Sri Lankan singers ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ like ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amaradeva, Nanda Malini, Sisira and Indrani , Jothipala, Latha, Victor all ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ well known names of Sinhala singers were brought to London and other European ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ capitals and held concerts. And then even the Gypsies ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ many othersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  like Clarence Wij ewardena, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ every ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ year we brought about 2 sets of groups to London. The idea was to collect the Sinhala people together and also create a cultural ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ awakeningƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  amongƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  them.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil groups were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meanwhile ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ misleadingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  foreign leaders and the publicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by saying that in Sri Lanka there was discrimination, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ genocide, holocaust, ethnic cleansing, concentration camps: this mantra was being repeated ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ over ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and over again. And this propaganda has really been so successful I would say that even ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nazi propagandist Goebbels was made to look like an amateur . But the success of that propaganda also was a reflection of the failure of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ expatriate community and our Missions abroad to tackle this issue. When we brought this to the attention ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Missions ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t take it seriously at all.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I have Mr. Chairman quite voluntarily for the last 30 odd years ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ appeared ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on television and Radio ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ well ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ over a l00 times participating in debates with LTTE reps.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  On 18^th and 19^th of May 2009 aloneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ participated in 7 TV debates. Sad to say not even an ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ encouragingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”thank youƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ from ourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Head of Mission.

I take a completely opposite view of what is being said in Sri Lanka on the so called ethnic issue. I have maintained ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ my speeches ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ everywhere ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the Tamils are the most privileged minority in the world. I have listed the reasons.

Tamil language is an official language in Sri Lanka. Nowhere else in the world is there ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ free Education ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ available ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to a Tamil to learn in Tamil from the kinde garten to the University. Tamils are free to Settle ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ down in any part of the country. Public holidays given to all minority religions in this ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ country.

I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have that freedom in England. I have lived there and I have argued with British MPs When ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ talk about discrimination in Sri Lanka. I said you donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t give one date as a public Holiday ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ either ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the Hindus or the Muslims or the Jews; only Christian days are holidays. And this ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ applies ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not only in Christian countries butƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mu slim countries as ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ well. I am not aware of a- country ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the world that gives public holidays to all minority religions . CurrencyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  notes, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ coins, stamps, all have Tamil wordings. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Even strips of the national flag are devoted to the minorities. I could go on and on.

I maintain that during the colonial rule there was a semi apartheidƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  system ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of government inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka and the victims of that system were the Sinhalese and especially the Sinhala Buddhists. For a proper reconciliation I would like to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ mention ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that in my opinionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  first we must be aware of those ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who supported terrorism all these yearsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  . I have debated and argued with most of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as they were going around ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Europe and UK supporting terrorism. I will list some of them in no particular order.

The Tamil ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ leadersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  starting ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with Amirthalingam who came there as the Leader of the Opposition and he used the mediaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to condemn Sri Lanka and the different Tamil ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ leaders ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who misled the Tamil youths by quoting false history and incited them to violence. Next ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ComesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the action of the Catholic and Christian churches. I find that there seems to be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a sort of conspiracy of silence in this country to talk about the role of the churches. I am fully ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ aware of what they have been doing over the years in Europe because lot of these clergy came ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ over ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there and they ran down Sri Lanka supporting LTTE terrorism.

.In fact there was once an Irish Catholic Priest ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who came to a Buddhist Temple in London to give a talk on Sri Lanka and his qualification ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ he had been in Sri Lanka for 2 weeks ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And he tried to depict this as a religious war between Buddhists and Hindus. And I had to challenge this person (and this was at the height of the IRA activities) and I said look There ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is no religious war between Buddhists and Hindus in Sri Lanka. We in fact worship in the same ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ temples ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ together. We go to places of worship together. There has never been any religious clashes. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And you all are Christians and in your ownƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Ireland why donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you look at your ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ problem. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Christians killing Christians; Protestants ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ killing ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Catholics and Catholics killing ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Protestants ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ you come here as an expert to talk about Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I am sure this Commission is fully aware that even-Dixit the former High Commissioner For ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri Lanka in his book “Assigenment Colombo” says: what was fascinating was that The ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Catholic clergy kept arguing in favour of the LTTE throughout my tenure in Sri Lanka. I had a debate with Father Emmanuel on the 24″` of February this year on Sky TV , the day the Global Tamil Forum wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  formed. He was saying ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there are still 300,000 Tamils in concentration camps; they do not have basic facilities and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ went on and on ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ uttering falsehoods. And I challenged him on this ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said there are no concentration Camps ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka. And this is the way they mislead and he became the President of the Global Tamil Forum and he claimed that he is a Catholic Priest ,was the former Vicar general of JaffnaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and now ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lives in Germany.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I have not seen anywhere the church either condemning these false ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ statements ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or Issuing ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ any statement to say that what these church leaders are saying is wrong. The next people I hold responsibleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are countries like India, Norway and some ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Western ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ countries ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that helped to perpetuate the misery for 30 years. And I know ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ some of them are now offering us aid.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But it is not aid we require from them we need war reparation from them for their responsibility for the death and destruction caused.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The next lot I have listed is the BBC ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ the BBC SandesayaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ especially ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and the Tamil Service. BBC Sandesaya was run by very eminent broadcasters from this country for many years. They used ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ go regularly to London for about 2-3 years come back and be replaced by somebody else.

But for cost cutting purposes Maggie Thatcher the Prime Minister stopped the service. I personally ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ campaigned ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for the restoration of the service and requested Mr. Premadasa Prime Minister ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” when he was on a visit ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ London ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to speak to Mrs. Thatcher about it and he did speak and finally it was Restored ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1990. But to my amazement the person selected as the main producer was one Vasantha ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Raj ah and I told the High Commissioner in London (our High Commission): look protest ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ about ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this because I know the background of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Vasantha ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rajah. But the Mission said we donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ even ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ know who he is. That is the kind of information they had. Now Vasantha ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rajah having ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ been ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the producer of the program later came to be appointed, as you know, the Chairman of the Rupavahini ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Corporation here. Can you believe it! This can only happen in Sri Lanka. The LTTE agent in London at the height of the war was appointed as the Rupavahini Chairman.

I have had 2 TV debates and one 4 hour radio debate with Vasantha ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rajah .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In fact on all 3 occasions he was nominated by the LTTE as their spokesman. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And then after Vasantha ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Raj ah left the Sandesaya to come to Colombo ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as Rupavahini ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chairman he appointed another Sinhalese person who was working as a care ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ assistant in an elderly peoples home with no experience in broadcasting to succeedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  him.

The only qualification was: he was anti Sinhala; anti Sri Lanka. And that person is still the Producer ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the program and he has his cronies around him and the BBC Sandesaya ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ does a lot of harm ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s image. They keep publishing only negative aspects of Sri Lanka. Every event in Sri Lanka is given a twist by the BBC Sandesaya.

And the Tamil Service was run ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a lady called Anandi who retired about 3 years ago and on her retirement Prabakaran gave her an award for the services rendered to the LTTE. So you see our London Mission has not objected to any of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ things ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the BBC. I have personally ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ written ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on a number of occasions to the BBC and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ also held two Demonstrations ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ against ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the BBC Sandesaya: one in year 2000 and again in 2006, but I think the Year ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2000 demonstration got a lot of publicity in Sri Lanka because Elizabeth Wright who was The ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Asia ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Coordinator came over to Sri Lanka at the time and the newspapers took it up in a big way.

And the next lot I would list in this list is the JVP. The JVP ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ membership is Limited ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to about 5 or 6 families but they are very vociferousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and holdƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  regularƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  demonstrations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Of course they donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t know whether they are coming or going because at oneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  time they were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ against the LTTE and the next thing is they are in favour.

Something that is not known in Sri Lanka is that in 1978 RohanaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Wij eweera when he was released by .l.R. Jayawardena was on his way to Cuba and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ held a meeting in London at the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square and I went over there with a crowd of myƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  members ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ he only had a question and answer session,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a Tamil youngster got up and said Comrade when you had your I 971 struggle we helped you what Is the assistance that you can give us now? Then WijeweeraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  got up and said:ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Y es comrade yours is a just StruggleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ I remember his exact words because I have repeated this at meetings several times. He said:ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Yes comrade yours is a just struggle. The way I can help you is I can create problems in the South. The Sinhala Army cannot fight on two fronts the South and the North.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I got up and challenged ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ him ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ we had a heated debate and he made a pathetic attempt to save his face.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He said that he ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ debate with me because his mother tongue was Sinhalese and his second Language ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Russian and third language was only English. I told himƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ you canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t get away with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a reply like that. Reply to me in Sinhalese I will translate it, to the benefit of the audience to SinhaleseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. But finally I was almost evicted from the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ place ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ becauseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  his group did not want me ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ask him any more questions.

And then we have the Opposition MPs including the Leader of the OppositionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  who ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ goes around the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ circuit blaming Sri Lanka. And I have repeatedly asked ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  people ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ do your politics In ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lanka by all means, say what you likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in Parliament ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but when you leave ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ shores of Sri Lanka donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢tƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  run down your mother ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ country .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Only last week I was asked to challenge one ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MP ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ColomboƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Jayalath Jayawardena ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but because I was coming over here I was not able to do that.

Then of course you get the Tamil Diaspora over there who are hell ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bent ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on bringing the Sri Lankan ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ name ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to disrepute. Now the amazing thing is just last year I had a debate on BBCƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Radio , with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil student from Imperial College, London. This student was doing his masters and to my ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ amazement ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he said things likeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ We allƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  know that Tamils are not allowed to go to school in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. I asked him who told you this. HE said ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ father told him. So this is the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kind ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of brain washing ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that is being done to their children over there. I am sure that happened here ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ still happening. That is why proper history of Sri Lanka should be taught in schools to everybody.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ How do we tackle this propaganda; this anti Sri Lankan propaganda abroad. I think first and foremost ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ our ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ embassies and High Commissions should be staffed by competent, dedicated people. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ unfortunately ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ my experience which goes back to the days of Dr. Malalasekera, a very eminent person ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ at that time there was no such problem here. But since then ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ quite ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a lot of mediocre people have occupied the Missions and they are not able to challenge any ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these false statements against Sri Lanka and often when they go to meetings all they do is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  monitor ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what is being said. Nobody challenges the lies.

But sometimes I find that the people at the top of the ladder obstruct our work ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sheer ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ jealousy ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and fear that their incompetency would be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ exposed. There have been some of course who have been ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ very ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ helpful.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ received ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ death threats in 1983 whenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I had a debate with LTTE ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on a Live ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BBC News Night programme ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and Scotland Yard had to put my house on a special list and they gave ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ me ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ protection.

And then in 2007 when I went to Geneva Mission (The Human Rights Commission) IƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  first I received a number of emails asking me: Why are you coming over here to do this. We will support you,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚· we will give you whatever you ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ want and not to come to Geneva any more. I Ignored ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ them. Then they threatened me.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I have a copy here ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ me .

Dear Mr. Wickramaratne,

My previous emails do not seem to reach you. I think you will remember me from your Geneva visit. We are organizing a seminar in Paris to which Brian Seneviratne is also coming. >* (Brian Seneviratne is a medical doctor from Australia who speaks for the LTTE who has been paid by the LTTE. He goes around the world on LTTE money.) He is also coming. Why ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ don ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you consider coming? Don ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ worry we will look after you. We Know ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ your ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ problems and can help ` And then it goes on: Don feel shy. By speaking for Sri Lankan Government you will be in the ame ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ boat ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ every day. We have contacts we will help you. And then finally it says: Only ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  if you don ‘t accept genuine offer don ‘t think our people will forget. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You know what happened to Kadirgamar.

And that was the last email I received and then of course a friend of mine, a Barrister, said this is a death threat you must refer this to Scotland Yard, which I did. And to the credit of Scotland Yard they sent the anti terrorist squad people; local Police, community Police, all sorts of people came ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and took ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ copies of the emails. Because I was due to go again in September to Geneva they contacted the Swiss Police and made sure that I would be given adequate protection In ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Geneva. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now that is the normal method of their activities.

But I missed out one lot in my list of people: it is the NGOs. NowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had quite a lot of tussels ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the NGOs and lNGOs in London. When Martin EnnalsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the former General Secretary of Amnesty when he retired – lot of these so called human rights activists donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t retire.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When they retire they start another NGO somewhere because there is a lot of money in NGO ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ work. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So he started ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ International ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Alert ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and he invited me to join International Alert. I pretended ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I was very interested in joining that and I went over to see ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ him.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  , when we ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ talking I toldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  him that if I were to join him I would have to make a big financial sacrifice because I would have to give up a very good job.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He said no, no, donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t worry about money. We are Getting ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ enough ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ funding. So I asked him where was the funding ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ coming ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from? He said the Dutch churches ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ giving us; Norway is giving us; we have enough funds. So then showing a lot of interest ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asked him: there are about 40 countries where there are problems ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ separatist problems ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ why ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have we started International Alert only on Sri Lanka? And then he said Douglas Right ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ now thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s where the money is’} So every ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ time ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  see all ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these NGO agents ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ speaking at meetings I look at Them ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to myselfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Martin Ennals words ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…” that is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where the money is.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I have challenged most ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these NGO people who come there .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In fact last June2ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- (2010) I was asked to come to Brussels.

I took on NGO crowd in two seminars in BrusselsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  .And then when I read about the Human Rights Watch refusing to give evidence at this Commission I was quite surprised at their turnabout ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because in 2004 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ it was reported in these papers as well ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ the first meeting that they held in London at the London University they condemned the LTTE ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a big wav. The Advocacy Director Ms Jo Becker who spoke against the LTTE saying that they conscripted children, abducted ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ civilians and murdered innocent people. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There was a large LTTE presence and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  tried to silence her. I intervened on her behalf and she thanked me saying that they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ did ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not want to hear the truth. Two days later HRW attempted to hold a meeting in Toronto but was abandoned as LTTE members disrupted it.

I would like to suggest that when we try to find solutions to the problem of false propaganda by the TamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Diaspora that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Ambassadors or officials to our missionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are appointedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  there should be a proper vetting system and their spouses should also be vetted.

I would also ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ like ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  say a few words about Devolution which some people are advocating as the solution to a non existing problem. Countries that adopted Devolution, say like United Kingdom to solve the Scottish problem are finding the errors of their ways.

The President andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Defence ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Secretary resisted the pressure from foreign leaders and directed ourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  forces to victory Our forces madeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the supreme sacrificesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to save our country being divided. If we go on the path of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ devolutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  it would finally lead to division.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It may not happen in our generation but let us save our country for the future generations. The East, the West, the South, the North of our country is our country Sri Lanka; and for Somebody ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ come here and say that: Oh! We ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should not send the Army or Army should not be in The ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ North, they should go back to the south. Army is everywhere in our country they have not gone ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a foreign land and I insist that the Army should be wherever there are possibilities of troubleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should be placed in large numbers permanently to prevent another uprising ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whether it ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is in the north or whether it is in the south, and I think those who advocate this concept of homelands ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their saying that the Army should withdraw and the Sinhalese should not settle in the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ north ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are stoking the fires of racism and separatism, because every inch of this country belong ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the people, whether it is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and they should have ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ freedom to settle anywhere in the country. And we should not have ethnic enclaves where ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ areas ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are demarcated ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for Tamils only; this is for Muslims only; and the rest of the country is for all races.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And I say that we owe a duty to the families of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to save our country. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We should think first about them: how do we look after them; how do we settle them and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ families; and those injured soldiers from all Armed Forces. Our Forces must be vigilant, Those returning refugees from Europe or from Canada and America, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be investigated, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ screened properly because there are elements that are out to create problems again because ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lifestyle, their living standards depend completely on this ongoing problem and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have huge amounts of money, resources. AndƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  some ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of us still have that slightly servile mentality that when we see a white man coming to tell us ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ we should do; how we should run the country; just like David Milliband coming over here. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In fact at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office David Milliband addressed first the Tamil Global Forum ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and after that he wanted to address the Sri Lankan Diaspora, not the Sinhalese Diaspora , the Sri Lankan Diaspora, and I went on invitation to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office . ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Milliband sent a video message only ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ saying ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that he was very sorry, that he was In ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Canada ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for a Foreign Ministers Conference and Des Browne was the main man there. And When ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ talked about,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Milliband talking about discrimination ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚· I challenged again and asked Des Browne ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ do you give these rights to the minorities living in the UK. How dare you ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ say ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ about discrimination. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And [told them stop bullying Sri Lanka. I said it is very easy for you all to bully Sri Lanka, a small country, but they will not do that with bigger countries like India or China .

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And then there is this idea floated ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ again ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ about we are a multi cultural, multi lingual society. Now multi -culturism has become a dirty word in Europe , they tried all this andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it has failed they are talking about in England or in France, in Germany that any immigrants ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ come there must have a working knowledge of the language in the country. In England now they are saying all people must have a working knowledge of English. So it is in Germany ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and France. They ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ coming back to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ basics.’

Now here we talk about ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ learning ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ three ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ languages as a solution to this problem. I think Personally ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is a very sort of simplistic approach. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In Sri Lanka about 80% of the people speak Sinhalese. Surely I mean I canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t go to England and expect the English to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ learn ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhalese. I got to learn their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ language. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anywhere the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ minorities ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ learn ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ language of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ majority.

On my way here, a few days ago ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ only, at the M.E. when the plane stopped there, I met 3 Sri Lankans working ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the airport. Those people were able to speak fluent Arabic and they had only been there ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a couple of years or so. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And then one said I can speak five ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ languages. Actually the more languages you learn I have no objection. By all means learn it.

But that is not the solution that the majority race should be forced to learn the minority language. I mean that would only antagonize the majority race. Even our village women who go to work in Middle ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ East ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are able to converse in Arabic in a short space of time.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I appeared on a live TV broadcast from Rome which was broadcast to the Middle East and That ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a Sinhalese program. There were about 5 in the panel. But all the questions from countries ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kuwait and Saudi ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from Sinhalese workers were about this language ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ issue. They said well we are here only for a few years and we have learnt Arabic. Why canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t people ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ learn ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhalese. That hostility should not be there because the Sinhalese and the Tamils have ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lived ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ quite in harmony. You learn the majority language.

And then also I would urge this Commission to see whether the LTTE funds that have been frozen ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ foreign countries could be repatriated to Sri Lanka. Because of the damage that has been ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ done to Sri Lanka, those funds should be sent back to Sri Lanka.

And I end my submission by saying reconciliation by all means but reconciliation should be accompanied ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ justice. And ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was an injustice done to the people of Sri Lanka by these Groups ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ must first apologize to the country, and that is the first step in reconciliation. They must apologize for what they did and then only we can ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ progress ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and build a Better future for Sri Lanka. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·

Thank you

END OF REPRESENTATION

QUESTION TIME

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chairman (closing statement) l

Well there was agreement with you on certain matters and disagreement with you on certain matters. We are at variance with you on certain matters but I must say that the efforts that you have taken to offset the false propaganda that had been circulated against Sri Lanka is very laudable. People like you spared no pains in exposing the falsity of some of these allegations ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚- unfounded ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ allegations so to say ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ that was leveled against Sri Lanka.

So I think we are all grateful to you for having come over here and made your representations. Certainly there was a lot that you said that will be very helpful to us in the formulation of our recommendations. Thank you