Artistes call for withdrawal of Darusman Report

Irangika RANGE

All Sri Lankan artistes in one voice appeal to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to withdraw the controversial Darusman Report which is harmful to the nation's sovereignty and post conflict reconciliation, veteran film director Somaratne Dissanayake said.

Addressing a media-briefing in Colombo yesterday, he said that the controversial Darusman report is a totally biased and inaccurate document which is the product of a personal initiative taken by the UNSG.

Furthermore, the mandate of the Panel is purely advisory in nature as stated in its Terms of Reference.

Sri Lanka is engaged in the delicate task of forging national unity and progress through reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the aftermath of the war.

It was purely due to its brutalism that the LTTE was listed as a proscribed outfit in more than 15 countries including India, Canada, the United States and Britain.

So by describing such an outfit as a most disciplined force as was done in the controversial Darusman Report is an insult to these countries. Veteran Actress and MP Malani Fonseka said that international forces emphasised that terrorism should have been wiped out from the world when the terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in USA. But the controversial Darusman report has revealed that the LTTE was the most disciplined outfit.

These statements are totally contradictory. As such queries are being raised that the report, which has levelled baseless allegations against Sri Lanka had been compiled on the needs of the terrorist outfit.

Veteran Actor Ravindra Randeniya said that the report is biased and formulated based on false evidence. We all must come together to defeat intentional conspiracies which have been created to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka.

The report is trying to create clashes and destroy the unity between all Sri Lankans. Veteran Film Director Jackson Anthony said the government has been successful in restoring peace, stability and security in all parts of the country.

The Government is dealing with critical post-conflict issues, with a view to erasing the pain and anguish of the past, while at the same time consolidating national unity and future progress.

He requested Sri Lankans and Sri Lanka's friends in the international community to assess these facts in a balanced manner and speak in one voice to defeat international conspiracies.

Meanwhile, all artistes will participate the "Adistana Puja" in Independent Square on May 3 at 6.30pm. A major rally will be conducted by the artistes to show their opposition to the Darusman report at the Ananda Samarakoon Memorial Centre, Nugegoda on May 9.