US Congressmen regret baseless allegations
A high level US Congressional delegation yesterday expressed its regret over Sri Lanka being subjected to various unsubstantiated allegations from different quarters, instead of being commended for eradicating one of the most ruthless terrorist outfits in the world.
They expressed these views at a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday. The US Congressmen were accompanied by Sri Lankan ambassador to the US and Mexico Jaliya Wickremasuriya.
Leader of the delegation Albert Benjamin Chandler said that he visited Sri Lanka two years before and that the country has made tremendous progress in the field of development during the past two years.
He said that the delegation toured a number of places in the country, including the Northern region and that they saw the people of all communities coexisting happily. He said that the delegation is highly impressed with the present security situation.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested these Congressmen to convey the factual situation of the country to the world. The President gave them a brief account of the development drive being implemented in the country.
The delegation included Jack Heddens Kingston and Rep Joseph Heath Schuler. External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the US and Mexico Jaliya Wickremasuriya were also present.
Courtesy: Daily News
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Nicholas,
Please don’t forget that we as a nation should stand up against machinations of the wealthy and powerful west.
Offering paid visits to insignificant Congressmen will not get us anywahere.
The Foreign Minister of UK who was a close friend of Sri Lanka is now gone; his underhand interests in the relationship with SL have now been exposed.
US Congressional visit was accompanied by Jaliya W, SL Ambassador in US. Was this visit arranged by him with all expenses paid for by SL? Nice little holiday for them. US President and Sec of State pay little heed to their small voice. Would they be able to lobby Congress effectively for a US change of policy in favour of SL against diaspora Tamils call for eelam/separatism. Would they defend SL terrritorial integrity and sovereignty in US Congress at all times? I doubt it. Anyway, worth a try. Perhaps it may increase US tourist interest a bit.
The Dutch courts have convicted 5 naturalised citizens of Sri Lankan origin of raising money of raising illegal funds for the LTT. However the courts acquitted them of membership of an international terror organization.
The court said the Tigers’ 26-year battle for an independent Tamil state, which cost an estimated 100,000 lives, was a “non-international armed conflict.” That means that any atrocities committed by either side should be classified as war crimes or crimes against humanity, and not terror attacks.
This ruling is a significant victory to the tamils of Sri Lanka in the path to redeeming the lost land in the island. The ruling represented a significant public relations victory for the LTT, who were labelled “terrorits” by GOSL:, USA, EU etc.
According to this court ruling the LTT are similar to the rebels who toppled Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gadaffi. Being labelled as “terrorists” by the paranoid President George W and his comrades in the Coalition of the Willing doesn’t get anyone anywhere.
As a result of this ruling, the following are predicted to occur:
Recognition of the LTT by the EU and US
Recognition of the tamil national struggle as a legitimate right to their homeland
A legitimate need for an international investigation into alleged war crimes in the last days of the “war”
The light at the end of the tunnel is now shining bright and clear.