LTTE’s overtures to India will not find accommodation - FM
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Velupillai Prabhakaran’s
overtures to India contained in his latest message yesterday will not
find accommodation.
The Minister made this observation in the course of a statement in
Parliament on Friday on the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Condemning this terrorist atrocity, Minister Bogollagama referred to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement in which he had drawn attention
to “the urgent need for concerted action by all countries to eradicate
terrorism, wherever it is, and whoever the leaders and manipulators of
such violence may be.”
Quoting US President-elect Barack Obama’s message, wherein he had
stated “the United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships
with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy
terrorist networks”, the Minister said this message revealed the firm
commitment and determination of the incoming US Administration in the
global struggle against terrorism, and continued US leadership in the
fight against this universal menace which has become a common threat to
humanity.
The Foreign Minister recalling the cold-blooded assassination of one
of India’s greatest sons and an outstanding Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi
by the LTTE on May 21, 1991 in Sriperumpudur in Tamil Nadu, said he had
to pay the supreme sacrifice for his unshakable stand on supporting Sri
Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and his outright rejection
of the LTTE’s separatist and fascist agenda.
Minister Bogollagama also referred to the recent ruling of the New
Delhi High Court, which upheld the Central Indian Government’s decision
on May 14, 2008 to ban the LTTE. The Court had in its ruling agreed with
the Centre’s submission that “the LTTE continues to use Tamil Nadu as
the base for carrying out smuggling essential items like petrol and
diesel, besides drugs, to Sri Lanka.”
The Centre had also argued that “the Government of India is
apprehensive that unless the ban of the LTTE continues, acts of
aggression on Indian soil are likely to occur.”
In concluding his statement in the House, the Foreign Minister held
out an olive branch to Prabhakaran by urging him to heed President
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s call to lay down arms, renounce terrorism and enter
the democratic path, to be part of the political process that is already
underway, to evolve a sustainable solution that will bring lasting peace
and stability to Sri Lanka. |