Karu J challenged to appear before LLRC

Parliamentary Corrs.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday challenged UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya to give evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) if he alleges that war crimes have been committed by war heroes of this country. The Minister challenging MP Karu Jayasuriya in Parliament stated that the Government stance is that neither the three forces nor the Police have committed any form of war crime during the Humanitarian Operation.

The Minister made this observation making a special statement at the commencement of the orders of the day in connection with the statement made by Karu Jayasuriya MP to a weekend English newspaper.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that his statement is in support of pro LTTE groups overseas and the international community that attempt to disrupt the Government’s economic development drive led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister stated that war crimes haven’t been committed by the three forces, police or by any leadership during the Humanitarian Operation. The Minister also added that this statement made by the UNP Deputy Leader is an attempt to degrade war heroes before the international community who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the Motherland. Minister de Silva stated that Jayasuriya’s position is that a probe should be made on the alleged war crimes committed during the Humanitarian Operation. He added that this was the voice of the pro LTTE groups diaspora seeking an Eelam and the international community who attempt to disrupt the country’s development drive.

He added that UNP MP Sajith Premadasa maintains clearly that war crimes were committed only by the LTTE.

“I don’t know if the UNP maintains two views over the matter of war crimes,” the Minister added. “I don’t know what UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s position is in this regard.”

The Minister added that this is the UNP’s foreign policy. He added that the UNP member has a right to expression and the Government also has a right to reveal betrayal to the country.

At this stage MP Karu Jayasuriya stood and requested an opportunity for an explanation.

Parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya stated that he did not mention words such as diaspora and war crimes to the weekend newspaper and he also did not give the headline to the newspaper.

Jayasuriya also stated that he worked for seven years in the military forces and said he loved the nation although he did not wear a name board as a patriot.

Later, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that war heroes should not be degraded.