TULF leader V. Anandasangaree today stated that those who seriously desire for peace and tranquility to return to Sri Lanka, are “duty bound” to persuade India and Canada to attend the Commonwealth summit.
He stated that merely because the Conference is going to be presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, does not mean that all countries should or will endorse all what he says.
“If anybody seriously wants peace and tranquility to return to this country, they are duty bound to persuade India, Canada and any other country having intensions of boycotting, to attend the Conference,” he said in an open appeal to the heads of states of the Commonwealth.
The Former MP and Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) expressed that he is “greatly relieved” that the British Prime Minister David Cameron is taking part, “since he has a pivotal role to play being the Head of the State which gave Independence to Sri Lanka.”
It is very clear that this meeting of the CHOGM is very important and cannot be brushed aside by the Heads of States of the Commonwealth, he said.
Anandasangaree said that the call by various organizations within Sri Lanka and outside to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) need to be “reviewed by them sympathetically in view of the immense hardships the minority communities in Sri Lanka undergo.”
He stated that a “golden opportunity” has come on the way to review many matters with the assistance of other nations of the Commonwealth and that such a move will not be ruled as, “out of order” however detrimental it may appear to the President, he being the Head of the host country.
“As for me, my expectation is that the President himself may even suggest the formation of a committee comprised of some members to study the problems Sri Lanka face and the grievances of the minority communities, to recommend a solution acceptable to the people of all ethnic groups,” he said.
“The President may be requested to announce to the country that whatever suggestion that may be recommended by such a committee should be accepted by all. This is not an unreasonable request because those who are going to be engaged in this task, if my suggestion is accepted, are popular personalities in their respective countries.”
“I hope everyone will agree that the presence of these three Heads of States of United Kingdom, Canada and India cannot be dispensed with,” Anandasangaree said.
He further said that no one will dare to ask Sri Lanka to do everything they want and that he had been urging the President to do what he should do to his people as the President of the country and at the same time as the commander of the forces arrange to defend the offenders in the proper way and try to save them.
“We can’t expect him to do anything and everything the way we want. It is ridiculous for anyone to think that he can be arrested, taken to Courts and punished,” he said.
The TULF leader said he honestly believes that the war crimes and other matters should be dealt with “separately without mixing both,” because at a time when all the Commonwealth heads are present and deal with all problems in a friendly way without causing embarrassment to each other.
Anandasangaree also added that all incidents of terrorism have now stopped and that an assurance had been given in Parliament that there are no more weapons with any of the armed groups.
“We are also aware that since the war ended not a single shot had been fired. These facts rule out the need for the presence of the Army in abundance and justify bringing it down to the minimum requirement, to facilitate the people to live in peace and harmony as citizens,” he said.
