Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario Canada

May 22, 2009

The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN

Sir:

The foreign correspondents reporting on Sri Lanka should take a breather and be a bit more responsible when reporting on the evolving story after the demise of the Tamil Tigers on May 18, 2009.

For Dean Nelson of the Daily Telegraph to say that “more than 250,000 displaced civilians could be held in overcrowded camps for up to two years…” is mischievous.

Why is it difficult to report a simple fact that, “The government of Sri Lanka indicated after meeting with India’s M.K.Narayanan, National Security Advisor and S.Menon, Foreign Secretary, that it was their intention to dismantle the welfare villages at the earliest and outlined a 180 day plan to re-settle the bulk of the IDPs to their original place of habitation. The Government of India has committed to provide all possible assistance in the implementation of such a plan in areas such as de-mining, provision of civil infrastructure and re-construction of houses. All these activities will be implemented in close consultation and co-operation with the Government of Sri Lanka.” That shouldn’t be difficult, is it?

Asoka Weerasinghe

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