Around 90 percent of Diaspora with govt - Minister Rambukwella

CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE

A good part of the Tamil Diaspora is with the government except for those pro-LTTE elements whose influence is on the decline since the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009.

Defence spokesperson and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said about 90 percent of the Diaspora is supporting the government.

"Their aim is to work constructively towards the development of the Tamil public," he said. "They are on a role to support progressive development in the country."

In total contrast, pro- LTTE Diaspora is working to prolong its power and influence that are on an inevitable decline after the decimation of the LTTE, Rambukwella said.

"They are in a struggle to mobilize their funding mechanisms and safeguard millions of dollars in assets without the manoeuvre of the LTTE," he explained.

He made these observations on being asked about the Diaspora's influence on Sri Lanka's politics.

The minister said the Diaspora as well as the local political group Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have become frustrated by their failed attempts to discredit the government by virtue of the Darusman Report.

Commenting on the TNA members' recent visit to meet Russian diplomats, Rambukwella said their modus operandi is to get the support of Moscow to rejuvenate their chances of empowering pro LTTE Diaspora politics through this Report.

The Diaspora is yet to recover from the heavy blow they suffered in the light of Moscow coming to strongly support the government over the Darusman Report, he said. He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha's resolution to impose economic restrictions could be a "political gimmick" to have been applied with the knowledge of pro-LTTE Diaspora to give an impetus to the visit of the TNA MPs to Russia.

A call for such economic restrictions on a country by another country, should come from the responsible government of another country and not from a provincial government within a country, he said.

Asked about the government's talks with TNA to reach a political solution to the North, the minister said they are discussing to reach a solution based on the 13th Amendment with a common Sri Lankan identity.

Asked if the government was influenced by India to reach a political solution, Rambukwella said: "The truth is that 13th Amendment is already law in the country . It is a common ground for Sri Lanka to proceed with what is already there."

"The government will not submit itself to foreign influences when it comes to internal matters," the minister said.