Rev Sarath Hettiarachchi tells LLRC:

Have programs to upgrade intercommunal harmony

Suraj A Bandara

Inter Religious Alliance for National Reconciliation Co- President Rev Sarath Hettiarachchi told the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee that irrespective of petty differences on religion, language and culture, citizen's rights to live anywhere in the country should be protected.

He said although terrorism was totally vanquished, the ghosts of terrorists cannot be crushed in two or three years. "Therefore the security forces should be vigilant and alert," he said.

Programs that would upgrade inter communal harmony should be introduced to strengthen mutual understanding among ethnic groups.

Literary works should be promoted to respect each other despite their differences, Rev Hettiarachchi said.

The performances of NGOs and multinational companies are critical in building the post war Sri Lanka. No space should be kept for them to interfere with internal matters whatsoever. Pro- LTTE organizations were trying to revive the LTTE by means of aid agencies and development organizations. The Government's policy on NGOs is appreciable, he said.

If any organization or Government is striving to settle people forcibly anywhere in some parts of the country that should be stopped. If the people wish to move, only then the government should facilitate to accomplish that endevour. If any one is keen to embark on business either in the North or South, opportunities should be made available to move freely anywhere in the country, he said.

"A clear language policy is essential to prevent the resurgence of a conflict. The President's and the Secretary to the President move to speak in Tamil is a clear indication to make the Tamil people understand that we are in an unitary State. Tamils in Jaffna were overjoyed when the President addressed the people in Tamil language. Therefore all government employees should learn Tamil on mandatory basis," Rev Hettiarachchi said.

Tamil and Muslim youth need to be encouraged to join the security forces. The present policy to recruit Tamils for to the Police is a far sighted action the Government undertook recently, he added.

Since Tamils in North were inculcated by the LTTE with the notion that the Sinhalese are a community who are rivals of Tamils, action should be initiated to remove that from the Tamils' minds, he said.

Rev Hettiarachchi elaborated that the media is crucial in building ethnic harmony.

Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah of Jaffna told the commission that the legitimate rights of all communities should be envisaged when making government policies to enhance ethnic harmony. Space should be created to examine all communities' mistakes. Granting amnesty to ex-LTTE cadres would be a welcome in rebuilding reconciliation among communities, he said.