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Post-war political solution and accountability: Mano lambastes govt, int’l community over their failure

Published

11 months ago

2024/05/18

…finds fault with outgoing US Amb. Julie

The international community (IC) has completely failed the Tamil community here, SJB MP Mano Ganesan has alleged.Issuing a statement on Thursday (16) to mark the 15th anniversary of the ending of the war, the leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MP Ganesan alleged that the international community backed the then Sri Lankan government and gave the go-ahead for an all-out final war. The MP claimed that the Vanni office of the UN was abruptly closed. The closure of the UN mission paved the way for Sri Lanka to conduct a war without witnesses, he alleged.

Referring to the then UNSG Ban Ki-moon visiting the North in the immediate aftermath of the conclusion of the war, MP Ganesan said that the international community failed to keep their promise to ensure a political solution and accountability.

The military brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009.The MP said: “Then the western nations promised justice at the Geneva-based UNHCR, brokered the honeymoon between the government and Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Today in 2024, 15 years after the end of war, the police armed with a court order, arrested and dragged crying vulnerable Tamil women from their private residence, accusing them of violating the law as they prepared and drank porridge in remembrance of their dead dear ones. There had been no symbols of any banned organization. There was only porridge, the MP said.

“Why on earth did the police go to courts in the first place when there is already a law preventing the usage of symbols of proscribed organisations? Why did the police go to their private residences in the middle of the night? Doesn’t the government have a general policy regarding remembering the dead, which is our own constitutional and UN declared right?

The MP said that he raised the issue with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The MP said that the President failed to provide a clear answer to his question but said he directed the police not to oppose bail.

Ganesan said: “Now, look at the state of affairs on the war-torn ground? War was officially over in 2009. Forget the rest, the vulnerable Tamil men, women, young, elders, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, widows and children cannot commemorate their departed loved ones even after 15 years.”

The former Minister declared that the Geneva process had failed to address their grievances. Geneva could ensure the basic right to commemorate the dead. The current US Ambassador Julie Chung, who is at the end of her tenure, couldn’t even put the basic UN Declaration into the heads of the leadership here. She has failed to publicly raise any tangible concern about the most marginalized Tamil workers in plantations coming under physical attack by the masters.

The MP said that he was beginning to realize the way forward for the Tamil communities was to join hands with the southern Sinhala social democratic brethren and commemorate the war dead in common and address issues of marginalized communities locally towards a common future.

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We aspire to build a nation where all citizens coexist in peace and resilience for the future generation -PM

Published

5 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is ready to listen to the people and aspire to ensure a peaceful and united nation for future generations.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings on April 20 at the Manik Farm Community Development Centre in Settikulam and the Ukkulankulam Ground in the Vanni electoral district.

The current Parliament has the highest number of female representation in its history. Previously, women constituted less than 5% of Parliament out of the total number of 225 However, 52% of the country’s population are women.

Women play a significant role in sustaining the economy, maintaining family structures, and upholding society yet their representation in decision-making bodies has been limited. Therefore, we urge you to elect not only male representation to Parliament but also more female representatives from the Vanni district.

Vavuniya is currently developing into a thriving city. Therefore, essential services expected from provincial councils must be effectively delivered. Local government bodies should actively participate in the development of the rural sector.

We recognize that education holds significant value for the people of the North. You place great importance on education. However, the country’s education system has deteriorated and weakened. Specifically, the lack of necessary attention to the education sector in the North has made it more challenging compared to other regions. Moreover, I have learned of a more alarming issue that the diminishing value placed on education by young men and women. Clandestine Drug Distribution and alcohol are now readily visible in everywhere. There are no avenues for youth to find joy while avoiding these substances. The underdevelopment of fields such as science, arts, and drama has left them without means to find happiness. Therefore, significant interventions must be necessary.

If you elect a group that is free from corruption and fraud, we can allocate funds without hesitation, ensuring they reach the appropriate hands. These funds can then be directed towards the development of your village. That is why your choice is important.

The events were attended by Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development, Upali Samarasinghe, Vavuniya District MPs S. Thileepan and M. Jegatheeswaran, along with the local government candidates and residents.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Exposition of sacred tooth relic extended by an hour –

Published

6 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

[file pic]

The Sri Dalada Maligawa has announced that due to the large number of devotees coming to Kandy to venerate the sacred tooth relic, the time of exposition of the sacred tooth relic has been extended by an hour.

Accordingly the public can pay homage from 11.30am upto 05.30pm from today [21]

News

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, Vatican says

Published

7 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.

His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis, with these words: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.” “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

Farrell adds: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis’s papacy heralded many firsts and while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists.

He was the first Pope from the Americas or the southern hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome.

He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter – Jesuits were historically looked on with suspicion by Rome.

Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years and for almost a decade the Vatican Gardens hosted two popes.

As Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, he was already in his seventies when he became Pope in 2013.

[BBC]