Building trust among communities:

Government to establish Reconciliation Commission

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne yesterday stated in Parliament that the Government will establish a Reconciliation Commission to build mutual trust among communities.

The Premier moving the motion to extend the Emergency Regulations by another one month said the objective of the Commission was to build the trust if there were any breach of trust among the communities due to the conflict that prevailed in the country. Proposals can be made to this Commission.

The Prime Minister also said this Commission is expected to prevent the communities falling into such an unfortunate situation again.

Benefits will be provided to the people who incurred losses during the conflict period. The Premier referring to the security situation stated that LTTE terrorism is active in the international arena under three main organisations. Their objective is to establish an Eelam in Sri Lanka.

Although the Government was able to eliminate terrorism from the country’s soil its real benefits could be realized only if lasting peace could be achieved.

The Government is rehabilitating more than 10,000 ex-LTTErs. Over 2,400 of them has returned to society. Around 1,350 ex-LTTErs are categorised as criminals who should be dealt with according to the law.

The Terrorist Investigation Unit and the Criminal Investigation Department are conducting further investigations.

He referred to the terrorists at large still in Sri Lanka and overseas in addition to the haul of weapons concealed by the LTTE.

But, the LTTE which is active internationally is attempting to use the innocent Tamil people, rehabilitated ex-LTTErs and those being rehabilitated and in custody as a cats paw in their vicious endeavour.

Premier Jayaratne further stated that the LTTE fund-raising has increased overseas. It may be for accumulating military equipment, he said. Meanwhile the so-called Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam has organised to hold its first general assembly in Switzerland from May 17 to 19. The Prime Minister further stated that under these circumstances the Government could not expect that everything was over. Based on these facts he requested the support of the members to extend the Emergency Regulations by another one month.

The Government has taken steps to relax the Emergency Laws by repealing certain regulations.

He said, the Government took measures in order to pass the benefits of the elimination of terrorism to the people.