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Separate 'Tamil Homeland' not practical -US Congressman

Congressman Frank Pallone, at a recently held discussion, said that separate Tamil homeland is not practical and unrealistic.

The Sri Lankan delegation, led by Minister of Health and the Leader for Peace Negotiations Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, made special arrangements to meet with members of the United States Congress to discuss matters pertaining to the current situation in Sri Lanka. Several meetings held in Washington D.C. on 21 September 2006.

Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOOP) supported Minister De Silva at these discussions. Members of the delegation also included Mr. Jeff Goonewardena (Sri Lanka Consulate General to Colombia and Venezuela) who organised the meetings, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha (Deputy Chief of Mission to the US Embassy of Sri Lanka) and few others.

Congressman Pallone, a Democrat, expressed his frustration to the violence that sparked since late last year. He was of the view that neither the Government nor the LTTE had any intentions for peace.

However, Minister De Silva highlighted that the Rajapaksa Government's commitment for peace began back in his election manifesto and that his undertakings for the people of Sri Lanka remain unchanged, even as at today.

Minister further explained that the Government resumed talks with the LTTE in February this year in Geneva after a three-year break, but the LTTE boycotted negotiations the second round of talks in Oslo.

"The government was ready with a maximal devolution package within a unitary State," said the Minister. Meanwhile, Dr. Kohona pointed out that the LTTE continued to secure arms and funding from around the world through extraordinary means and requested the support of the US Government to strengthen the current crack down by the FBI for which Congressman Pallone agreed to extend his support.

In addition, Pallone expressed his view that non-LTTE Tamils were afraid of the LTTE and asked the question why the LTTE does not want peace.

De Silva responded by noting that majority of the Tamils in Sri Lanka live outside of the North and East and they coexist peacefully with others, while those who live in the North and East also want peace, but unfortunately the LTTE pronounces peace only to strengthen its armoury, which only indicates terror to achieving their objective.

As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka, Pallone asked the delegation "what can we do to help." Minister De Silva reiterated that Sri Lanka is genuine to end the conflict through negotiation and requested the support of the US Government to compel the LTTE to renounce violence and return to the negotiating table in good faith.

"We like to promote peace; we are frustrated that it is not happening" said the Congressman before expressing his appreciation to the delegation for taking the initiatives to visit Washington in view of discussing the situation personally with the Congress members.

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