Today is my first visit to Washington since my appointment as Sri Lanka's Minister for External Affairs. My visit marks a point of progress for Sri Lanka, following a difficult period in our history, one year on from the end of the Sri Lankan conflict.
After 26 years of conflict and daily acts of terror, we have witnessed our first year of peace. No-one who lived in Sri Lanka during the last thirty years would underestimate the magnitude of the change the country has undergone this past year nor the significance of our first anniversary of peace.
For almost three decades, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist group banned in over thirty democracies worldwide, including here in the US, had held the people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka under their repressive control. Today, Sri Lankans can celebrate that the country will never have to face such internal conflict again. 'Change' and 'hope' are popular words in the modern political lexicon, but I cannot think of two words that better exemplify what is now occurring in our country.
We just had the first peacetime Presidential and Parliamentary elections where all Sri Lankans were able to exercise their vote freely, previously denied to many Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese civilians in the North and East by the LTTE.
A year ago, Sri Lankans were unable to travel to the North and lived under the intimidation by the LTTE. One year on, the key A-9 artery road linking the North and the South of the country is once again throbbing with life and activity, reflecting the resumption of commercial and human contact with the North.
Internally displaced people have been returned to their homes as the land has been cleared of mines and infrastructure restored. A rich rice harvest will be produced from agricultural lands that had been indiscriminately mined by the LTTE. Companies from a diverse range of sectors from food processing, plastics and glass recycling, garments to ready-mix concrete are looking to establish a presence in the in the former conflict zones. The banking sector is flourishing, with several international names now operating in Jaffna, the capital of the North.
In the Eastern Province, the economy has been revitalised, with the investment of USD1.7bn. In this area, infrastructure has been restored, Tamils now form a bulk of the police force, all citizens participate in regional politics, employment is growing and tourism is thriving. In the North, we have initiated an accelerated programme of development, investing USD2.6bn over two years.
We are establishing a Commission to look at the lessons learnt from the conflict. The Commission will provide recommendations on actions that can be taken to boost reconstruction, rehabilitation and support reconciliation within Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa has expressed his determination that no-one will be left behind in the new Sri Lanka, and the Commission will help achieve this important objective. We have a responsibility to ensure no future generation has to experience the anguish that we underwent during the last three decades.
In our external affairs we are committed to an open multilateral framework based on the principle of mutual respect. To that end, Secretary Clinton's message of congratulations and invitation to Washington when I assumed my role last month was warmly received. We look forward to many years of constructive engagement and dialogue with the United States as well as other Western nations.
But constructive engagement does not stop at a Government-to-Government level. I have instructed my embassies to engage with Tamil communities abroad, to boost dialogue within these communities and, we hope, improve understanding. We may not be able to bring all the former voices of the LTTE among Tamil expatriates to the table, but I hope we can bring the Tamil population with us, as an integral part of a united Sri Lankan people.
One year ago, Sri Lankans saw an end to terror, an end our people scarcely thought possible. A year on, our people are embracing the opportunities it brings. We are making steady progress. I believe the painful shared memories of the past era of terror will drive our country on to many more years of peace and prosperity. We welcome international support and assistance as we work towards this enduring goal.
Visit us at http://www.unitesrilanka.org
In KP´s absence, Rudrakumaran just got himself elected as the CEO of the re-branded provisional government, now called a "Transnational Constituent Assembly of Tamil Eelam".
All of these are in one way or another connected to an ruthless terrorist organization banned in many countries around the world. Now that we have these names out in the open, we need to find more details of who these people are and then bring them to notice of the proper authorities.
Please help the people of Sri Lanka and its diaspora around the world to get rid of this scrooge once and all. Go to the wikipedia page, look at the names, if you have any information concerning any one of these, post them here or send us a email at Lankans Against terro with the details. Please remember to give us any URL´s, and any published documentation which we can attribute so the information is credible and stands inspection.
Join us in publicizing this page, our twitter account (https://twitter.com/Antiterroristas) our user page (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001137403792) and our anti-terrorism group page (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116291341745319).
We need every bit of help. Make it count!
Sri Lankans, and those who care about Sri Lanka, need to come together in support of the work that needs to be done. This work includes having an open and honest conversation about what has taken place, but being really careful not to descend into backward looking mud raking.
-The commission of enquiry is a really important start, and deserves people's support
-The Professor's instruction to the embassies to engage in constructive dialogue deserves people's support and active participation
-The investment in the country to help - through economic development - rebuild the war shattered communities deserves people's support, and investment
It am surprised that many of the comments on this thread seem to lack a sense of purposeful action - now really is time for all Sri Lankans, and friends of Sri Lanka, regardless of background to come together to build the future of this amazing country.
-to save Rajapakse brothers from war crimes
-to beg money in the name of re-development,
On ground, the conditions are same. Military in civilian clothing mixed with Tamil population to kick out media and 'foreign conspirators'
Ground conditions in the North and East are unchanged;
No media, no humanitarian aid other than through Presidential funds.
No accounts on the Tsunami Money stolen.
Gun-totting paramilitary and cronies running the administration there.
Sinhalese population is settled where Tamils were evacuated or still in the camps.
Now they call it TAMIL HOME LAND and they want autonomy. And they will never allow any other race to enter their area let alone live. Racist Terrorists come here an comment after all that..
Please keep your house in order before preaching to the world. (worlds worst human abusers are watching you to follow suit):
** Over 90,000 Tamils are punished and kept in the camps for over one year.
** Over 11,000 Tamil youth are held in undisclosed locations
** Upto 40,000 were killed cold-blooded during the final days of the conflict.
** the Tsunami fund and humanitarian aid are stolen big time
** Sarath Fonseka who got 40% popular votes is still under arrest
** The paramilitary, cronies and henchmen are nurtured.
** where are the media and NGO personnel abducted in white vans
** why you buy $300M arms from Russia
**
You are just the last of a long line.
It would be a good idea to get international human rights groups to investigate exactly what took place in the North. The government banned any group and the media from visiting the area, when these violations were happening. If the Rajapakse regime has nothing to fear, they should lift the veil of secrecy and allow the world to look in.
A nation with crime : “Sinhala Sri Lanka”:
1958: Hundreds of tamils were massacred by Sinhala racists.
1972: Over 20,000 Sinhala youths were masscred by Sinhala military.
1977: Hundreds of tamils were butchered again.
1983: Over thousands of tamils were massacred and chased away from their homes.
1989: Over 40,000 Sinhala youths were masscred by Sinhala military.
2009: Over 100,000 tamils were massacred and 300,000 were chased away from their homes.
the above are wholesale terror by Sinhala state. All these crimes are committed in the name of Buddha. So for in the SRi Lankan history, none of the Sinhala leaders (political or military) took responsibilty for these crimes. I am sure Buddha must take all responsiblity. The pattern of the crimes clearly shows that the cycle of violence cannot be stopped in Sri Lanka because of its Buddhist fundamentalism. Other examples are: Butan, Sri Lanka, Thailand
The crimes and the blood shed in this nation by Sinhala racists state is not comparable with any war crimes in the world.
LTTE terrorists intended on killing all Sinhalese as shown by all their lethal weapons burried!
LTTE terrorists are far worse than AL Qaeda. LTTE terror tactics are copied nicely by Taliban and Al Qaeda!
If not genocide GOSL solve the problems with tamils democratically grab the current opportunity/ chance they are encouraging another Birth of freedom fighters.
Tamils would not stop their War aginst Genocide by GOSL on them until they get their dignity, freedom & Sovereign Land for them.
All fight for their Religion. Extreme Budhists killed Hindu Tamils, Chiristian Tamils and Muslim Tamils to make the Island of Sri Lanka as Budhist Country
Sign the Petition by Amnesty International: Call on the UN to Investigate War Crimes in Sri Lanka
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=14310
“INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD”
IF THERE WERE NO WAR CRIMES, “WHY DON’T GOSL AGREE TO AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION?” MS. ARBOUR SAID. “IS EVERYBODY WRONG EXCEPT THEM?”
I urge every peace-loving people to unite together and put an end to this misery by bringing these Lankan war criminals to the International War tribunal. We can’t simply let the lankan ethinic war criminals move around freely in this civilized World.
Please look at this video which has been taken May of 2009 while Holocaust of Tamils took place in Tamil Eelam by the occupied Sri Lankan terrorist army.
Please see this video
The Economist has been doing consistently excellent reporting on Sri Lanka. Here are a couple of recent articles:
About the consolidation of power into the hands of the Rajapaksa family:
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=16167748
About the fact that Sri Lanka is becoming an example to despots everywhere of how to put down an internal rebellion:
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=16167758&source=hptextfeature
The Tamil extremists posting their propaganda here, have absolutely no concern for the economic well-being of their Tamil compatriots back home. Their only concern seems to be to extract revenge from a country which has (not for the first time) beaten back extremists.
You seem to know us so well. You seem to be able read our hearts and minds! Please also share HOW you know us so well! Please share with us about your source of knowledge and wisdom about the experiences of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
We await anxiously!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/world/25military.html?hp=&pagewanted=print
your fellow cabinet member, Keheliya Rambukwella has banned the Tamils from mourning their war dead in religious ceremonies at Hindu temples, Catholic and christian churches and mosques, while you victorious Sinhalese celebrate all over the island, even in Tamil areas.
"18th of May marks the completion of one year since the war was won and the LTTE was defeated. While the Govt. has arranged a number of ceremonies to celebrate the victory in the South to pay national tribute to the soldiers, the Tamil people in Jaffna were prohibited by the Army and the Police when they tried to conduct religious ceremonies in a Temple in memory of their children and kith and kin who died in the war. If the Tamil people cannot even commemorate by performing religious ceremonies in memory of their dear ones who died, what is the Democracy that is prevailing under this Govt. ? a journalist questioned."
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=9568
Just who do you think you are fooling?
"Lanka-e-News 19.May.2010 11.30PM) According to reports reaching Lanka e news , when a religious ceremony was to be conducted in a Temple in Jaffna yesterday(18) in memory of the sons and relatives who lost their lives in the war in Jaffna, coinciding with the Govt.'s commemoration yesterday of the war victory (18), defeating the LTTE exactly one year ago and paying a national tribute to the soldiers in the South, was disrupted by the Army and the Police.
It is learnt that a high ranking Army officer has threatened the Temple incumbent that no responsibility will be taken by him for the religious activities conducted in the Temple without his permission.
This remembrance ceremony was organized by parents , widows and relatives in memory of those who died in the war. "
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=9563
Dr. Gamini Lakshman Pieris, you say..."'Change' and 'hope' are popular words in the modern political lexicon, but I cannot think of two words that better exemplify what is now occurring in our country."
Do you understand the meaning of the words "Hope" and "change"? I woill be happy to send you a dictionary c/o of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington!