The speech given by Hon Sarath Weerasekera in Parliament on 3rd Dec
Posted on December 6th, 2013
Mr. Speaker,
In this Committee Stage of the Defence Budget let me first start by responding to some statements made by certain individuals, i.e, Hon Sumandiram,the British Prime Minister David Camaroon, Hon Sambandan etc..
Hon Sumandiran , referring to the treacherous statement made by TNA MP Sreedharan, who said’ that Prabakaran was a hero, a freedom fighter and should be commemorated’, said in this Parliament that the people in a country which claimed to be civilized should have the freedom to commemorate the dead. He tried to insult my country through that sarcastic comment.
First of all I must say that Hon Sumandiran and other Members of TNA are now sitting in the Parliament and enjoying all the facilities and privileges because we are a civilized nation. We all know that TNA was the proxy, the political wing of the LTTE which we comprehensively defeated . In the world in similar circumstances, the corresponding political party also vanished. When Hitler was defeated in Germany, his Nazi political party was eliminated. In Cambodia, when Pol Pot was killed, his political party was also destroyed. When Sadam Hussain was killed the Bath political party evaporated. When Mubarak was taken out of power, his political party was proscribed. But in my country, after we crushed the Tigers, we allowed you to survive and continue your politics, because we are a civilized nation; because our President is kind hearted and please don’t take that kindness as assign of weakness.
Nations commemorate lives of civilized individuals for their contribution towards the upliftment, advancement of the mankind,/society. Prabakaran, the killer, committed the most heinous andevery possible crime against the mankind unprecedented in modern times. Mr. Speaker, in Terrorism there is no middle man, either you are a terrorist or not. -So only a terrorist can lobby or suggest to commemorate another dead terrorist.
Hon Sumandiran also said that they the TNA will not participate in the Parliament Select Committee because there is no majority for them there. I must tell Hon Sumanthiran that we have invited them at least for that, because we are civilized. In actual fact, we shouldn’t have. Because, as I said, TNA was the proxy of LTTE and we defeated it and after defeating the Tigers, if we are going to have discussions with the TNA, it is like Sir Winston Churchill talking to the Nazis after the Second World War! It never happened so you be happy that at least you are invited to the Select Committee. You are giving lame excuses because you know very well that you will be thrashed out, as there, it is face to face talks and you won’t be able to prove any of your bogus theories.
I also must make a few comments on Hon. David Camaroon. When he landed here, he was accorded the same welcome/reception/respect as for the other Heads of States. But, he completely ignored it and his response to it was very rude. In here, he did not participate in any of the discussions of the CHOGM, but went to Jaffna and played cricket. He held a press conference here and allowed only the foreign journalists to ask questions and did not allow any of the local media. He flouted the freedom of speech of our media men and had the audacity to go to UK and tell about the absence of media freedom in my country.
On the other hand Prince Charles who came here, conducted himself in a very regal manner, very charm, gentle, always smiling, a real Officer and a Gentleman . He was in the Royal Navy and I am really proud, because I was also in the Sri Lanka Navy for 35 years! Hon Camaroon failed to behave like that, it shows his upbringing and we can imagine how he was brought up and get a hint of the quality of the school he attended.
Mr. Camaroon should have known that when he visited here, he never came as David or Camaroon, but as the Prime Minister of Britain who represented the British people and the British government, the country which created the Commonwealth. He should have acted and said things to further the objectives/aims of the Common Wealth, but instead, he was catering for the parochial interests of his constituents back home. That was very unbecoming of a Prime Minister and in the process, he disgraced the British nation in general and Her Majesty the Queen in particular.
Mr. Camaroon says he wants a special investigation in to the human rights violations in our country during the war. I don’t think he has any moral right to say so. He should be reminded about the blatant human right violations they did, when we were under subjugation, 150 years ago. The British couldn’t defeat us and we the Sinhalese, defeated them comprehensively, in different locations as we were experts in Guerilla warfare. Then, they started to hit at our economy , they destroyed all our paddy fields, destroyed our tanks, destroyed our canals, our cattle and killed all the men aged between 18 to 35!! So Camaroon whose ancestors have done that much, has no moral right to talk about the human right violations in my country and in actual fact, we can demand reparations, if not an apology from them. Also Mr. Camaroon should be aware that our country, which is predominantly Buddhist, for the past thousands of years, have protected not only the rights of Humans but also the rights of animals and birds as well.
Mr. Speaker , the war that we fought was a war against terrorism. Although terrorism is not yet defined in the UN for reasons unknown, in layman’s terms it is killing/massacring of innocents to achieve a political aim. So whether the cause for terrorism is justifiable or not terrorism cannot be justified. And terrorism is no more local or regional, it is global and transnational. ‘ My terrorist today can be Camaroon’s terrorist tomorrow’. Therefore, there has to be a concise and concerted effort on the part of the International community to address this menace. But, when we addressed and crushed it , instead of congratulating us, they try to find fault with us, with false allegations just for a handful of votes lying with the Tamil Diaspora.
Mr. Speaker , I don’t think there is any other army in the world who sacrificed their lives to protect the civilians, like our Army. More than 28,000 soldiers have died in the battle field and 25% of them would have been still living, if our valiant soldiers, both men and women were not concerned about civilian casualties. That was because we have a President, whose heart is filled with compassion and that was because we have a Defense Secretary, a kind hearted, benevolent war veteran.
It is true, a large amount of money is allocated for Defense. I think it is necessary to maintain peace. Mr. Jefferson, the US President has once said that “the price for liberty is eternal vigilance” So our military should keep vigil all the time. Navy is our first line of defense and it has to be strengthened. We must buy surveillance ships, acquire sophisticated radars, multi sensor integrated systems, etc. Ours is the only navy in the world which faced suicide boats at sea, fought and won. Others navies can come here and learn from our Naval officers, how to fight suicide squads, the tactics we used, the strategies/formations we adopted .
Also Mr. Speaker, in the process, we lost so many navy men at sea and also lost many ships and crafts. You will be surprised that at the last stages of war we apprehended the entire family of Susei, the Sea Tiger Leader, in a dark night at sea. Susei was responsible for making hundreds of our naval wives widows and destruction of large number of naval craft. Only the Commander, the Secretary Defense and the President knew it. We could have easily destroyed them, but now they are among the Sinhalese living happily. That’s how we protected the human rights of Tamil civilians, even if they were close relatives of tiger leaders and that’s why we don’t take it seriously when Camaroons or Mangala Samaraweeras talk about human right violations, during war because we have acted according to our consciousness.
The TNA wants army to withdraw from Jaffna. In Jaffna Mr. Speaker , there are 2 groups now. Those ex Tigers who were rehabilitated and released to the society, those who were sympathetic to LTTE and those were harassed / whose loved ones were taxed or axed by Terrorists. They are angry with each other. When we look back in history after the US civil war in 1865 the Union Army remained in the South for 13 years and after13 years when they left there were mayhem, massacres . Same thing can happen in Jaffna and TNA must think about it seriously as the majority in Jaffna think their lives are safe with army presence.
December 6th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
the majority in Jaffna think their lives are safe with army presence- Agreed !
TNA must think about it seriously – They are safe in Cinnaman Garden !mayhem can happen in Jaffna – that what TNT want any way !!!
December 6th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Sarath Weerasekera is a good example how a military leader can be a good national leader.
When the military takes over it will have people of his caliber.
December 6th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Bravo! Hon. Sarath Weerasekara has spoken the TRUTH on behalf of all Patriots of Mother Lanka who lack a National Forum to make themselves heard!
However, that is not ENOUGH! The Tiger Nominated Agents (TNA) of the LTTE, who aided and abetted MURDER & MAYHEM in Sri Lanka, and COMMITTED TREASON against the Nation throughout the last 30 years, SHOULD & MUST be held ACCOUNTABLE for their CRIMES, and PROSECUTED & PUNISHED to the FULLEST extent of the Law.
Only that will DETER such crimes in the future, and protect our Motherland!
Three things are important for Protecting the Nation: DETERRENCE, DETERRENCE, & DETERRENCE!
December 6th, 2013 at 11:17 pm
NO politician will EVER be held ACCOUNTABLE for their CRIMES, and PROSECUTED & PUNISHED.
Plenty of examples.
December 7th, 2013 at 6:22 am
Bravo! A superb response….
These people like Sampanthan and Sumanthiran are shameless about the roles they have played as proxy to the LTTE. Someone has to call a spade a spade, and the Deputy Minister has done so admirably!! In no other country in the world could these Tamil leaders have survived to enjoy what they now do, after having openly supported the world’s most ruthless terrorist leader, whom they all worshipped as their Sun God.
It is very interesting that Cameron’s wreath/flowers at Elephant Pass were laid by him in honour of “all the innocents killed” per the English translation, but the Tamil and Sinhala translations were very different…..
Hope the GOSL will check this out and not let it pass without an objection.
December 7th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Here comes a TNA MP bearing a “Gift Horse” to undermine the Sri Lankan Troy!
NEVER involve international parties in any “accountability” effort in Sri Lanka … as this Tiger Nominated Agent proposes!
Like Norway’s involvement which saw the slow legitimization of a terrorist group on the world stage, such an act will SLOWLY UNDERMINE Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty and INSTEAD OF ENDING the allegations will open up a CONTINUOUS PROCESS of foreign interference in Sri Lanka.
NEVER AGAIN should such a thing be contemplated.
We warned the GOSL that FAILURE to hold the Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA ACCOUNTABLE for their support of LTTE terrorism and their TREASON against Sri Lanka at many different levels including inviting foreign invasions of our country, and EMPOWERING them through the Northern PC Election, will ONLY ENCOURAGE MORE TREACHERY.
And as WE PREDICTED it has come to PASS that Sri Lanka’s difficulties have INCREASED, not ABATED by the ABJECT CAPITULATION to Terrorist Separatists and Foreign Powers plying their own agendas.
At least NOW, the GOSL should backtrack, and implement the following
9-POINT PROGRAM for Peace & Security in Sri Lanka
1. REPEAL the 13th Amendment
2. DISMANTLE the Provincial Council System
3. ELIMINATE Indian Involvement in Reconstruction & Rehabilitation efforts in the North & East
4. REDUCE Indian Involvement and Investment in Sri Lanka’s economy
5. END Military cooperation with India; they can’t and don’t help SRi Lanka with any weapons ANYWAY!
6. SECURE Sri Lanka’s coastline with coast guard and naval bases within EYESIGHT of each other to protect Sri Lanka’s Maritime resources and PREVENT illegal immigration, gun running, and goods smuggling
7. LAUNCH a thorough investigation of the CITIZENSHIP STATUS of the residents of Sri Lanka to IDENTIFY & DEPORT upto 1.6 MILLION ILLEGAL aliens from TAmil Nadu as indicated by the 2012 Census.
8. ADOPT Ethnic Integration as National Policy with the goal of achieving a UNIFORM ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION nationwide, without REGIONAL ethno/religious concentrations.
9. INCREASE the number of Armed Forces camps and Personnel in former LTTE-infected territories, PERMANENTLY SETTLE military personnel AND their FAMILIES in the North and East as part of Ethnic Integration, providing land, good hmes, schools, hospitals and other INFRASTRUCTURE to INCENTIVIZE PERMANENT SETTLEMENT by Sinhala people in these areas. In the Final Analysis, Ethnic Integration of this kind is the only permanent hope for peace and security of the people of Sri Lanka.
The END of CHOGM, and the CLEAR DISPLAY OF ENMITY by India, Tamil Nadu, and Western Nations with large Sri Lankan Eelamist Tamil Populations, has given the GOSL the PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT the above 9-POINT PROGRAM in the National Interest.
Carpe’ Diem! Seize the Day!
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Sri Lanka’s accountability issue will not go away unless government agrees to international involvement – Tamil MP
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s major Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says international involvement is needed to resolve the accountability issues and bring reconciliation.
TNA parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran has said in parliament that that if the government agrees to an international inquiry or at least an international involvement in the process of resolving the differences, it will move the country forward.
He noted that Sri Lanka now has a great opportunity to agree to a process under the aegis of the United Nations.
Pointing out that questions of accountability will never go away until they are met squarely and sincerely, Sumanthiran said the government must make use of the opportunity to bring an end to the misery suffered by people for decades in the country.
He added that the External Affairs Ministry should take note of this fact and redirect its course.
According to Sumanthiran, the time between now and the next UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions that is less than six months away is enough if the government acts with sincerity.
The international community is pressuring Sri Lankan government to conduct a credible and transparent inquiry into the allegations of war crimes and human rights violations to address the accountability issue.
British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the government that UK will use whatever in their power at the UNHRC to bring an international probe if Sri Lankan government fails to conduct an independent probe by March 2014.
December 8th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Freddy Gamage is a CONGENITAL IDIOT if he thinks that the GOSL should remain SUPINE while TamilNet, the VOICE OF THE LTTE, broadcasts its venomous lies to Sri Lankan citizens to undermine and destabilize Sri Lanka! Not even the United States, with its GLOBAL NSA SPY Network does that!
Also, since when did TamilNet, SriLankaGuardian and LankaeNews become “local” news websites? You got to be dreaming!!
Gamage is a UNP stalwart who has now created the official sounding “The Professional Web Journalists’ Association (PWJA) of Sri Lanka” as a POLITICAL TOOL to achieve his devious political ends.
The days when the UNP represented the National Interests of Sri Lanka ARE LONG GONE. Unfortunately … despite its honorable record of bringing independence to Sri Lanka …..,today it has deteriorated into an umbrella organization sheltering all the Anti-National Elements in Sri Lanka.
Don’t be FOOLED by this discovery of a brand new commitment to “Online Journalistic Freedoms” by the UNP! It is more Self-Serving Anti-National UNP Politics … now jumping into bed with AVOWED SEPARATIST ENEMIES of Sri Lanka like TamilNet … the Principal Mouthpiece of the LTTE Diaspora!
It was only Yesterday that the US Embassy was warning Sri Lanka about “restricting press freedoms.” Is this move by Freddy Gamage a coordinated effort in collaboration with that foreign power to further destabilize and undermine Sri Lanka?
Shame on you Freddy Gamage …. after all you are a Sinhalese …. are you not?
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Professional Web Journalists’ Association in Sri Lanka speaks against blocking of local news website
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 08, Colombo: says that the blocking of a local website is part of a ‘selective curbing of access to internet news.’
Issuing a statement on the blocking of SriLankaMirror website, Convener of the PWJA, Freddy Gamage noted that over half a dozen websites from Tamilnet, Sri Lankan Guardian, LankaeNews that carry news and information on Sri Lanka and interactive participation by readers have been blocked from resident Sri Lankan citizens and in this selective curbing of access to internet news, the latest victim is SriLankaMirror (SLM).
“While the Media Ministry insists web sites operating from within Sri Lanka and provide news and information on Sri Lanka should be registered with the ministry, there is absolutely no such legal binding for web news as there is for print and electronic media. Nevertheless, SLM was one of the first Sri Lankan news website to oblige the media ministry request, but had been at the receiving end with CID raids, indictments and now total blocking of the website, for their comparatively independent stance on reporting news and events, the media release adds,” the PWJA said.
The Association added, “In a media culture that had been coerced to follow the leader where occasionally and ethically editors and journalists feel reluctant to fall in line with the regime, the growing internet culture is seen as a new threat to its continued rule of the land with massive corruption, fraud, money laundering and nepotism.”
According to the PWJA, it is the duty and the right of the Sri Lankan people as Citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations to demand the Head of State of Sri Lanka as the new chair in office of the CW for the next two years, honor all democratic pledges adopted unanimously and signed into as a member country.
December 9th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Hats off to Mr Sarath Weerasekera for calling a spade a spade ! At last the glorious truth emerges from the Lanka Parliament
re the last war and the ltte supporters in Lanka and all over the world.
* Nilwala has said …”It is very interesting that Cameron’s wreath/flowers at Elephant Pass were laid by him in honour of “all the innocents killed” per the English translation, but the Tamil and Sinhala translations were very different…..
Hope the GOSL will check this out and not let it pass without an objection”.
YES, LET THE CORRECT TRANSLATION BE MADE KNOWN IN ALL MEDIA.
* We agree with Ananda’s 9-Point Plan for Lanka.