Diaspora trying to destroy reconciliation process - SL's envoy in Australia

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Australia, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe said last week that he was deeply concerned about certain elements in the Diaspora in Australia who were intent on destroying the processes of reconciliation and economic development taking place in Sri Lanka by continuing a campaign of separatism.

Admiral Samarasinghe made these comments when he addressed a gathering of Federal Parliamentarians and Australian Government officials and the media last week at an event co-organised by the High Commission and the Australia-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Group, titled 'A Nation Moves On: Sri Lanka's journey from conflict to reconciliation'.

In his address, he highlighted the involvement of Diaspora members in the LTTE and its front activities and said they have already begun fundraising campaigns for the cause of creating a separate state of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.

"These front organisations were similar to those set up by the LTTE in the 80s through which they raised funds and procured arms and ammunition to unleash terrorism in Sri Lanka", he said.

The High Commissioner briefed those present on the LLRC report and said the Government was going ahead with the implementation of these recommendations and would be announcing a roadmap soon.

He sought the understanding of the international community and friends such as Australia, as Sri Lanka moves towards this process. He stated that Sri Lanka should be given adequate time and space to undertake its internal reconciliation process. As a case in point, he said that following the LLRC recommendations, the Sri Lanka Army and Navy have established their own inquiries to investigate any wrongdoings by service personnel during the conflict.

He queried as to how the LTTE flag was used at the Australia Vs Sri Lanka cricket match in Sydney on February 17 and said that it was regrettable that an international sporting encounter was used by the pro-LTTE lobby to agitate for their cause. He said that reconciliation was happening in Sri Lanka between the two communities and the pro-LTTE Diaspora should not be allowed to derail that process. -RW