We should heal India's wounds and show our gratitude - Gammanpila

SENIOR JHU Member Udaya Gammanpila says if Sri Lanka wanted India to play a bigger role in the peace process, the country must heal their wounds and show its gratitude to India.

He said his party was very appreciative that President Mahinda Rajapakse had taken the lead in doing that by preparing to hold a Rajiv Gandhi memorial oration in Sri Lanka and expediting the building of the IPKF memorial.

Gammanpila who was a member of Rajapakse's official delegation that toured India last week was of the view that India was not willing to play a more active role in Sri Lanka due to bad experiences and memories during the IPKF time.

"Come what may the Indian soldiers died fighting the LTTE. It's our turn to show them that we care and appreciate what they did," said Gammanpila.

The JHU legal advisor was of the view that the Indian Government had a very good understanding of the Sri Lankan Government's problems with the LTTE and their continuous attacks.

Describing the Indian visit as successful, Gammanpila said India was very fortunate to have two educated, well balanced, sincere leaders in Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Dr. Abdul Kalam.

"The Indian leaders and diplomats I met also expressed happiness that President Mahinda Rajapakse was a pro- Asian, pro-Indian leader. They said he is the only pro-Asian leader Sri Lanka produced after former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike," he said.

The JHU leader said his party joined the President not merely as a coalition partner but, as co-promoters, founders of the Mahinda Chinthana. "It is our duty to defend it and to strengthen the hand of the President," he said.