Expatriate Sri Lankans unite under one banner

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Sri Lankans living in Europe have come together under a united Sri Lanka banner irrespective of being Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim, said State Resources and Enterprise Development Deputy Minister and MP Sarath Kumara Gunaratna.

Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratna

"They are keen to contribute to the development efforts of Sri Lanka", he said. The Sunday Observer interviewed the Deputy Minister after his return from Italy where he attended a series of New Year celebrations recently.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: What was the objective of your visit to Europe?

A: The Sri Lankan organisations in Italy and France invited me to attend important events in Europe. Since I have a strong relationship with these organisations in my capacity as a youth leader and a politician.

Q: You said that you observed a strong bond among Sri Lankans in Europe inspite of communal differences, could you elaborate?

A: Thousands of Sri Lankans attended the new year celebrations held in eight major towns in Italy simultaneously. They were organised by the 'One Sri Lanka' organisation headed by Birgith Silva.

I met Sri Lankans, specially the Tamils who lived in Europe at the time of the humanitarian operation in the North. Now they feel comfortable that they have been freed from LTTE terror. They need not pay ransoms to LTTE agents. They are free to visit Sri Lanka, their motherland and meet friends and relations. Now they want to unite as Sri Lankans outside Sri Lanka and live peacefully.

They want to contribute to the development of their motherland.

Q: Are they keen to invest in Sri Lanka.

A: Yes, most of them inquired about investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. They really want to participate actively in the on-going development process by investing funds.

We have discussed this request at ministry level. State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry will formulate a new scheme to secure their participation in the government's development efforts.

Q: What was their attitude towards the Darusman Report.

A: They will certainly protest against it. They clearly said. "It is an attempt to destroy the unity among Sri Lankans and an attempt to push the country back to the terror era, where imperialist western powers were behind the mayhem.

Q: You said that we should launch a propaganda drive to expose the savagery of LTTE terrorism to the Western world since they are trying to whitewash the LTTE.

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa accepted the heed for such a campaign when I discussed it with him recently.

An exhibition on LTTE terror activities will be held in the main towns in Europe under the patronage of the 'One Sri Lanka' organisation in Italy and Sri Lankan youth organisations in Europe.

Q: You said that you visited the 'Madhu Church' during Lent. Did you observe any significant change in the area?

A: The post terror landscape has undergone a remarkable change. Families which were torn apart have reunited and children are back in school. Long abandoned lands have been cultivated with paddy and other crops. Smiling faces represent the change for the better.

Q: The State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry has a mandate the revitalise the former profit making State ventures which have become a liability to the state coffers-today. Your comments.

A: Sometime ago our ministry initiated a serious study on these ventures. Minister Dayashritha Tissera, Secretary Dr. Willy Gamage, along with me visited all these State institutions and gave a good hearing to the employees.

We have taken steps to rejuvenate these industries with private sector investors. These ventures will not be privatised again.

Sri Lankans who live in Canada and Europe expressed their willingness to develop the country specially the North and the East. We expect to obtain technical and financial assistance for development of State resources.

Q: Local manufacturers of roof tiles in the Kochchikade area have a severe problem in marketing their products. What steps have been taken to overcome their problem.

A: There is a health hazard attributed to asbestos. But the industry is not affected.

At the discussion we had with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a decision was taken to use local tiles for selected government buildings in future.