Holmes undermined Lanka’s goodwill

Large number of aid workers still in North-East, says Minister Fernandopulle:

Manjula Fernando and Nadira Gunatilake

COLOMBO: Regretting the statement by UN Humanitarian Chief to Reuters that Sri Lanka was one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said it was unfortunate that he forgot that there were still a large number of aid workers including those of the UNICEF, serving in the North and the East.

Fernandopulle said Holmes undermined the State’s goodwill exhibited through the ready facilitation of his trip to the North and the East for him to get a first hand account of the ground situation there.

“Most of the aid workers in the North and the East are Tamils, some of them are LTTE sympathisers. This is a known fact,” the minister said adding that anyone who helps the cause of terrorists should be regarded as a terrorist.

“We will not take his remarks seriously.”

“We can’t help but think, for his thoughtless remarks in the Reuters interview, that if he’s paid by the LTTE, his words will tarnish the image of the country.”

The Minister said the Government, more than anyone, wanted to ascertain the identity of the killers of the 17 local workers of the French aid agency, Action Against Hunger. “The perpetrators of the Muslim businessman abductions were apprehended recently. One was caught in Dubai with Interpol assistance.”

“Likewise we want to apprehend the killers of the French Aid workers. We are working on it. There is no necessity for the State to hide anything,” the minister stressed adding that it was unfair to point fingers at the Government and make subjective statements when a probe was on.

Referring to the Opposition’s remarks on the issue, Minister Fernandopulle said the opposition was clamouring over ‘abductions’ one time and lately their interest has shifted to other issues such as the Agrahara Insurance Scheme, Car Permit of Ven. Medhananda Thera, and the ‘Rajapaksa Company’ buying new mansions in Battaramulla, Colombo 7 and most recently in California.

“They grab anything in their desperation to find a short cut to power.”