Shenali Waduge

Since 1987 there have been a series of secretly signed agreements that have proven detrimental to the country. Silence of biased media to expose and inform the public to generate enough momentum against these agreements has meant nationalist lobbies have had to step in to fill the void. For all its past records, the JVP must be mentioned for its role in bringing to the attention of the masses important agreements that would with time provide the ground to divide the nation. The Indo-Lanka Accord, 2002 ceasefire agreement, ISGA and the PTOMS will go down as a few of the most treacherous agreements signed placing a terrorist organization on par with a democratic government.

Countries do not function to an individualƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s whims and fancies and certainly not to personal ideologies that public officials believe in. Legal and constitutional provisions cannot be shoved into corners or shrewdly replaced by drafting new legislation and fooling trusting leaders into placing signatures on documents detrimental to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sovereignty. Yet, there appears no end to the treacheries that prevail.

Let us look at how the PTOMS came about closely following the 2002 Ceasefire and the ISGA.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  2001 December ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” UNF Government led by Ranil Wickremasinghe

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1994-2004 President ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Chandrika Kumaratunga

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  4 November 2003 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” President Kumaratunga suspends Parliament takes over Ministries of Defense, Interior and Information (while Ranil Wickremasinghe PM was overseas)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  5 November 2003 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” State of Emergency Declared

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  7 February 2004 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Parliament dissolved and elections put to April

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  2 April 2004 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” UPFA Government with JVP alliance wins Parliamentary Elections

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1 November 2003 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ISGA proposals forwarded by LTTE (that came with a USD5billion aid package-it was to secure this that the UNF Govt was unceremoniously ousted)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  26 December 2004 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Tsunami struck causing over 30,000 deaths and immeasurable damage to property and infrastructure.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¬ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  PTOMS was a result of discussions between the Peace Secretariats of LTTE and GOSL.

Jayantha Dhanapala was Head of GOSL Peace Secretariat from 1 June 2004 as well as President KumaratungaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Senior Advisor and came to a consensus with the LTTE on the joint mechanism for tsunami relief.

Nationalist organizations protested vehemently against the signing of the PTOMS ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” all warnings were ignored.

JVP resigned from the Chandrika Govt on 16 Jun 2005 protesting against PTOMS.

The PTOMS was signed on Friday 24^th June 2005 and came with an AID PACKAGE OF USD3billion.

M.S. Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, signed on behalf of the Government while Shanmugalingam Ranjan, Deputy Head of the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) signed on behalf of the LTTE in Kilinochchi.

NOTE: The SLFP opposed both the ISGA and the PTOMS.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) for the Establishment of a

Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (“P- TOMS”)

Preamble

• Tsunami on 26 December 2004 destroyed human lives and property.
• Need for all communities to cooperate on humanitarian grounds
• Need for equitable allocation of post-tsunami funds
• Humanitarian need in a spirit of partnership between GOSL and the LTTE (the Parties) to deliver relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development to the coastal communities in 6 districts ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Ampara, Batticoloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Trincomalee
• Establishing PTOMS between GOSL and LTTE

Structure

PTOMS was to plan, implement and coordinate post-tsunami work and would have a High Level Committee called the Post-Tsunami Coastal Reconstruction Committee / Regional Committee for the 6 districts / 6 District Committees

The High Level / Regional Committee and District Committees to address concerns of all persons in Tsunami Disaster Zone (TDZ) ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” tsunami affected land area adjacent to sea within 2km landwards from low water line.

Scope of

High-Level Committee ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1 nominee from GOSL (no mention of Sinhala nominee),

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1 nominee from LTTE,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1 nominee by Muslims

Functions ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Formulating policies for equitable allocation and disbursement of donor funds in TDZ,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Monitoring of PTOMs.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Also empowered to bring additional land areas within TDZ provided it is impacted by the tsunami.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  One of the members will be selected to serve as Chairperson and role shall rotate every two months.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Committee can have one observer representing multilateral donors and one observer representing bilateral donors at the meetings.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Decisions will be based on consensus or seek donor assistance. Possibility to suspend cooperation giving 14 days notice is also possible.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The High-Level Committee shall have a secretariat with staff and be located in Colombo and can determine its own procedures to discharge functions.

Regional Committee ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Responsible for areas of the TDZ in the 6 districts,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  development of strategies for implementation and prioritization of post-tsunami emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development measures, monitoring of projects, fund management.

Regional Committee will comprise of

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  2 members nominated by GOSL (one is the Deputy Chairperson),

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  5 members of LTTE (one will become the Chairperson),

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  3 members of the Muslim (one is another Deputy Chairperson)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  one observer from multilateral donors and one member from bilateral donors shall attend meetings.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Decisions will be based on consensus.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Chairperson shall have final say.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Regional Committee will be located in Kilinochchi.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Procedures will be determined in consultation with High Level Committee.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A small Secretariat for the Six Districts shall be set up and may draw staff from the Secretariat for Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN).

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Secretariat shall be named as the Regional Secretariat for Post-tsunami Coastal Reconstruction and Development (RSPCRD), and shall provide secretarial and administrative services to the Regional Committee.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be set up.

District Committees ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the 6 district committees will identify, prioritize and generate needs to the Regional Committee.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The 2002 Ceasefire Agreement will continue and the PTOMS MOU will not alter any existing clauses of the 2002 Agreement.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  PTOMS will be in operation for a period of 1 year from the date of signing ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” MOU can be extended by consensus

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Donors to cover all costs and expenses related to establishing and functioning of PTOMS.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚§ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Regional fund ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Post-Tsunami Coastal Fund for the 6 districts with foreign and local funds. A Multilateral agency will be custodian of the regional fund

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Questions raised in signing the PTOMS:

• The mistake made by Ranil Wickremasinghe led Government in signing the 2002 CFA was that it questioned why a democratic government should enter an agreement with a proscribed terrorist organization ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” why was the same mistake being repeated?
  • The LTTE was proscribed by Sri Lanka in 1998 following the Dalada Maligawa bombing. That proscription was lifted in 2002 on the insistence of the LTTE as a precondition to enter peace talks and sign the Cease Fire Agreement.
  • Not only did the Wickremasinghe Government lift the ban on LTTE, it went on to recognize the existence of an LTTE administration in the North East of Sri Lanka and it demarcated LTTE-controlled areas- was this not a violation of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution.
  • What can we think of Government negotiators when the PTOMS mechanism provided for a regional committee of 10 members 5 of whom were to be LTTE appointees and 3 Muslims whilst there is no mention of any Sinhala representation except GOSL ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” GOSL does not represent Sinhalese!!!?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Does the country hold in esteem officers that negotiated and accepted such clauses without argument and insistence on change?
    • Why did SL officials agree to PTOMS for only the 6 districts of NE when the South was equally affected? Why was the South of Sri Lanka omitted from the USD3billion aid package?
    • If the West has proscribed the LTTE was it willing to give funds to the district committee headed by the LTTE? Luckily the US and Japan went on to say they would not supply funds to PTOMS.
    • This then raises the question of why these nations did not object to the clauses on financial matters before PTOMS was signed.

International praise of the PTOMS agreement between LTTE and GOSL:

• India, Canadian Government and the EU were all in praise of the PTOMS.
• UN Secretary General ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Kofi Annan ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I am pleased that today, the Sri Lanka Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure, a joint tsunami aid sharing mechanism that will allow for the distribution of relief funds to all affected areas in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Locals praising PTOMS:

• Jayantha Dhanapala :

oƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-There is nothing to fear in the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS),ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

oƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We have to accept the challenge of working with the LTTE, and the fact that they have come into the programme gives an indication of them being willing to work with the government of Sri Lanka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” perhaps for the first time,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

oƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-natureƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s interventionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ on 26 December 2004 provided a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-window of opportunityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to work with the LTTE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-surpassing all political differences, which separated us and caused a stalemateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

oƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Commenting on opposition to the P-TOMS by extremist elements, he said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-These elements donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t represent the mainstream of Sri Lankan opinionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is important, therefore, to realise that the more vocal minority is not necessarily representative of Sri Lankan opinion.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

oƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Both sides realise that this is an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”unwinnable warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. But what is depressing is that amidst this ceasefire ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” which is an ideal climate for us to move forward to translate the temporary truce into permanent peace ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” we are having a number of low-intensity conflicts, which do not help the situation.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

• Harim Peiris then Director General Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation as well as Presidential Spokesmen of Chandrika Government ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The non-implementation of the P-TOMS which had the status of a signed agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, could create the implication that there is no real political space or that credit would be given to the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sri Lanka is lucky he is no longer holding any post in public office.
• Kumar Rupesinghe praised the 3 tier structure of the PTOMSƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.saying ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-it was the only way outƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. He also campaigned for the ISGA claiming it was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the maturity of the political debate in the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ISGA was the only vehicleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
• Jehan Perera said PTOMS would ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-help build mutual trustƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

President Rajapakse (then Prime Minister) when asked his opinion on the PTOMS claimed he was not aware of the contents of the draft agreement and thus unable to comment.

Opposition to PTOMS: came from all quarters of the Nationalists of the country.

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) opposed appointment of DEW Gunasekera as the Constitutional Minister and representative of the Government in the PTOMS ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-DEW Gunasekera is the Secretary of the Communist Party. From the time we know, he has been a sympathizer of the LTTE whose only dream is dividing the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.he is not even a peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s representativeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦he became an MP through the National listƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Having resigned from the Government the 39 JVP MPs went on to file 3 Fundamental Rights petitions with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka alleging an infringement of their fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 12(l) and 12(2) of the Constitution (FR petitions : 228/05, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 229/05, 230/05

JVPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s FR was on 5 objections:

1.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Secretary to Triple R Ministry did not have ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-any authorityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to sign MOU

2.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  President could not constitutionally authorize the MOU in view of Article 42 and 43 (1) of the Constitution.

3.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  No legal basis to enter MOU with LTTE which was not recognized by law in view of it being identified with terror, violence, death, destruction.

4.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-powers and functionsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of the Regional Committee were ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-governmental in natureƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. and that such powers and functions cannot be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-validly conferred on such committees in the manner contemplated in the MOUƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

5.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Regional Fund managed by a multilateral agency formed ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-part of the funds of the RepublicƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and should be disbursed and accounted provided in the Constitution. (This was said to be the World Bank)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Supreme Court Judges :

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Supreme Court Judges Raja Fernando and R.A.N.G Amaratunga

Counsels for Petitioners : HL de Silva PC, SL Gunasekera, Gomin Dayasri, Minoli Jinadasa, Manohara de Silva. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Special mention of these legal luminaries who did not take a cent to give their legal counsel to a cause that affected the sovereignty of the nation. These were true lawyers upholding their profession with professionalism and integrity.

Counsels for the Respondents: K C Kamalasabayson PC, Attorney General with P A Ratnayake, PC, ASG, Ms. D Dias Wickremasinghe, SSC and Viraj Dayaratne SC for (Attorney General), R K W Gunasekera for 3^rd respondent, Nigel Hatch, P.C., with Ms. K. Geekiyanage for the Secretary, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Respondent) in S.C.(FR) 230/05.

ARGUED ON: 8 and 12th July 2005

DECIDED ON: 15th July 2005 (20 page interim order)

Supreme Court Judgment: INTERIM ORDER

i) an interim order is not granted in respect of the entirety of the MOU referred to and the Structure as provided in the MOU consisting of Committees may be established and become functional subject to the restrictions as are imposed by this judgment; the operation of Sections 6(b)(ii), 6(b)(iv), 6(b)(f),6 (1) and 7 of the MOU are stayed pending the final determination of this application;

iii) the funds both foreign and local intended to be deposited in the Regional Fund as provided in Section 7 may instead be dealt with according to the provisions of the Constitution and deposited in a separate account with a Custodian to be designated, if lawfully authorized;

iv) the location of the Regional Committee may be decided on by the parties in compliance with the criteria that has been stated;

V) a Project Management Unit (PMU) may be set up in lieu of the Unit provided for in Section 6(1) by the relevant Ministry in accordance with the applicable procedure. Such Project Management Unit would be at liberty to coordinate and implementation the projects with the District Committees, the Regional Committee and the High Level Committees as provided in the MOU

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The jubilation of the interim order was heralded by the entire nation that was against separatism.

JVP Statement ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The court ruling has thwarted the PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s bid to handover administrative and financial powers to a group of terroristsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚,

Vijitha Herath, JVP – ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We have succeeded in our struggle. There is nothing in the agreement now.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s TamilselvanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s response to the Interim Order was that it reflected the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-continuation of the methods adopted by the Sinhala majoritarian political leadersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” there are many who would agree but does that mean the majority must blindly watch the country separated/divided and given to terrorist movements who are functionary proxies in a bigger gameplan?

There is little doubt that these money ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-carrotsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ dangled as aid package using humanitarian laws are designed in taking the weaknesses of leaders to mind and proven by the manner that the leaders and cohorts signatory to the successive agreements have jumped to accept clauses detrimental to the nation. The silence of the media in not taking up what their role is as public citizen number 1 in ensuring that as watchdog the nation remains sovereign and undivided needs to be mentioned. Almost always the media has stepped forward to denounce the nationalists as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-extremistsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and obstructing development etc.

MediaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s role need to change. Leaders need to be more tuned into how their decisions affect the nation and its people. Public officials need to function withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ integrity and not simply as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-yes menƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚