Take steps to end these brutal killings - Wimal Weerawansa

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Ranil Wijayapala

UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa yesterday stressed in Parliament that Security Forces should take swift measures to control the serious situation in the Eastern Province where a number of civilians have been killed by the LTTE.

Making a special statement at the commencement of Parliament sittings Weerawansa said a number of civilians belonging to Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities have been killed over the last few days by the LTTE.

"The ceasefire monitors are also silent about those killings and they springs into action only if an LTTE leader or member is killed, added Weerawansa.

In his lengthy statement, Weerawansa went on to explain in detail about the killings which occurred in the East in the last few days.

He referred to the killing of four Muslim civilians and one Sinhalese at Kolakanawadiya, Welikanda in Polonnaruwa.

Weerawansa questioned as to how the LTTE operated in Polonnaruwa which does not come under the purview of the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2001 between the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE leader. "LTTE has killed all these civilians taking under the cover of the Ceasefire Agreement", he added.

Weerawansa also referred to the recent killing of Alagaiyya Kirukeshwaran of Batticaloa.

"This person had been working closely with the Government Security Forces and had left the country soon after the CFA was signed. He had returned to Sri Lanka recently as tsunami had claimed the lives of his only child and wife's parents. He was killed by LTTE in the Batticaloa town while he was preparing to leave the country.

He said the country's Security Forces which are dedicated to safeguard the Ceasefire Agreement is also not in a position to control this situation.

"Even those foreign elements which are forcing us to implement a joint mechanism with the LTTE in order to carry out the rehabilitation work in North-East is also silent about the cruel assassinations done by the LTTE", Weerawansa accused.

He lamented that no world leader is making any condolence statement on behalf of these innocent victims who are killed by the LTTE.

"Therefore, the President who has the responsibility for National Security and also security authorities should pay their attention to this situation. It is our responsibility to protect these innocent lives and take counter measures against those killings", added Weerawansa.

"As well, a Tamil youth in Wandarawill has been killed as the LTTE had identified him supporting the Karuna fraction. Another Tamil youth named Christi Rathanajothi was killed in front of his pregnant wife, by the LTTE Tigers.

Weerawansa said, the LTTE cadres have also made an attempt to kill a person named "Thalavi" who had served in the Sri Lanka Army, but his family has been able to escape.

"Besides, another Muslim was killed in Kirimichchakulam yesterday. He was among a group of four Muslims who had gone to their village in Kirimichchakulam to engage in their farming activities. Three had been able to escape from the LTTE, but one failed.

Also, another three people in Ottawawadi, Valachchenai had been kidnapped. They have gone to collect firewood, he added.

After Weerawansa made his statement, SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem requested a separate debate on this situation.