Storm in a tea cup?

House of Commons debate:

Pulse of the People by Ananda Kannangara

Jathika Hela Urumaya MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera outrightly condemned the adjournment debate in the British House of Commons on Sri Lanka's internal problems and said that Britain has no moral right to discuss about human rights in Sri Lanka.

"I have a strange feeling that the British Government is trying to dictate terms to us and we should take no notice of them."

The Thera also said that Sri Lanka regained her independence from the British long time back and therefore neither Britain nor any other country should interfere into our domestic affairs.

"People must also keep in their minds that many powerful countries in the world are in the habit of creating unnecessary problems in the third world," the Thera said.

President of the Sri Lanka Deshabimani Peramuna, Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera was very unhappy over the behaviour of certain British Parliamentarians in the House of Commons. He vehemently condemned the move by them to appoint an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to discuss the domestic issues in Sri Lanka.

"All of us are aware that the British move was an infringement of the sovereignty of Sri Lanka," he said.

The Thera also said he had lodged his objections to the British High Commission in Colombo to stop the creation of the APPG which, is likely in an indirect way, to help the terrorists to indulge in their illegal activities in our country.

He had requested the British Parliament, the one who introduced democracy to the whole world, not to undermine the inter communal solidarity among Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims.

"It is a surprise to hear when a group of parliamentarians in the House of Commons behave out of turn, whereas the rest of the world is supporting the Sri Lankan cause to defeat this most dangerous fascist group".

Government's Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella remarked that people in Sri Lanka should not panic over this 'debate' in the House of Commons, which in his opinion does not reflect the views of the British Government.

"People must realise that the British Government has banned the LTTE and how can any LTTEer even try to obtain a visa to travel to UK? he asked.

The British Government has not conveyed any message whatsoever through their diplomatic channels on this subject and it is best to be forgotten, till anything comes up the Minister advised.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake lambasted the behaviour of some of our politicians with their childish behaviour with their political fronts, to be over this issue and pointed out that it was only a debate that took place during adjournment time in the House of Commons.

The matter was neither officially discussed in the House of Commons nor was it passed with a resolution and therefore no one can put the blame on the British Government.

"Even similar incidents do take place in our Parliament too. For example how many times did some of our members from minor political parties create an uproar against Eric Solheim's interference to solve our national problem."

"But the Norwegian Government never spoke ill of the Sri Lankan Government and there I appeal to the Government not to pay attention to stupid statements but try and solve the national crisis as early as possible, he recommended.

The Patriotic National Movement (PNM), Chairman Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara warned that the country is faced with a huge threat from imperialists as never before, and appealed to the House of Common not to interfere.

Dr. Amarasekara also accused the British Government for its plans to get down the LTTE to London, to address the British Parliament.

"If it does so, the LTTE which is a banned organisation in the UK, will find it 'smoothsailing' for them to enter that country," he predicted.

Propaganda Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Wimal Weerawansa was totally opposed to the British Government's stand with regard to our ethnic issue.

"We urge the peace loving British public to influence their Government's stand on a poor nation".

The JVP also condemned the attitude of the present British High Commissioner and his expression of solidarity with an editor of an English newspaper pertaining to a controversial media report, involving the Defence Secretary and the editor of the same newspaper.

Thirty-eight year old University lecturer Shanthini Kiriella said

"Government must over and over again assure Parliament that it would never allow any foreign country to interfere in Sri Lanka's internal affairs."

"If not, our childish politicians will once again parade up to the Colombo British High Commission and make a fool of themselves ".

Divisional Secretary, in the Kalutara District, Sarathchandra Weerakoon said "as far as I can see the British Government have not officially informed the Sri Lankan Government about any plans to send a team of MPs to Colombo to study the ground situation in the North and East".

Hanifa Ibrahim, a Finance Manager attached to a shipping company in Kollupitiya said that this particular Commons debate must not be taken seriously and instead to focus our attention towards many other important things.

"Government must put a stop to fundraising by the LTTE in the UK". Forty-six year old Dr. Mihiran Jesudasan asked the Sri Lankan Government to forget about this issue and instead work towards a lasting political solution to the unending crisis, thus saving innocent lives and to safeguard the rights of all communities in the country.