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by Ranil Wijayapala

The President of the Association of Relatives of Servicemen Missing in Action E.P Nanayakkara yesterday made a request from the Government to reciprocate to the release of 10 detainees by releasing some of their detainees to be handed over to the LTTE.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Colombo regarding the release of the ten persons who had been kept as LTTE detainees for nearly ten years, Mr. Nanayakkara said such a move will help for the release of other persons under the custody of LTTE.

He said that the LTTE has released these persons as they clearly understand the UNF Government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is making a humble effort in ushering peace in the country.

He said that the release of war prisoners is an integral part of the peace process and the Government should take this opportunity by releasing some of the LTTE prisoners as a gesture of goodwill towards this move.

Nanayakkara said some organisations are trying to get the credit of this effort trying to represent them as the prime movers of this effort.

Rev. Father Oswald Firth of the Centre for Society and Religion said prisoners of war are a forgotten set of people and the exchange of war prisoners should be considered a role directly connected to the peace process.

He said the release of ten prisoners is a crucial victory gained by the civil society in the peace process and there is a bigger role for civil society to play in the coming peace process.

The Government should reciprocate to the release of detainees by are releasing Tamil people who under the custody for minor offences, he added.

The Chairman of the Ceylinco Consolidated and Founder Society for Love and Understanding (Solo-U) Deshamanya Lalith Kotelawala said the Government should allow the civil society to get involved in the peace process as they have a true feeling towards the country.

Seven persons out of the persons released by the LTTE were also present at this press conference.

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