Rights of all protected, says Prime Minister

Prime Minister DM Jayaratne speaking in Parliament on Thursday said: "As Sri Lankan citizens, legal, economic, education and health privileges have been provided to the Tamil community as given to all the other communities."

He said: "Although certain elements state that the Tamil community has been treated as a minority race and neglected since 1956, and that Tamils have not been given their fundamental human rights, they were appointed as government ministers, Chief Justice, secretaries of ministries, lecturers and professors in universities and maintained their political, economic and cultural rights. Further government aid have also been given to them.

"A small fraction was involved in violence to achieve their goals. Even before the humanitarian rescue operation the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims were living in harmony. The Tamils affected by terrorism had also gone abroad. Now as Sri Lanka has returned to normalcy and peace restored hundreds of Tamil people are now returning to their motherland.

"Approximately 300,000 people who were affected were provided with houses, electricity, water, schools, agricultural equipment and funds are being allocated to renovate their religious centres, and to commence small industrial activities. There is a small number who are eligible for such assistance.

"The hardcore terrorists have been rehabilitated and even provided with public sector employment. The Tamil community has been living in Sri Lanka for a long time and live in all parts of the country.

"More Tamils are living in other parts of the island other than in the North and East. Due to terrorist activities in the past, a large number of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people were killed. A large number of Sinhala people disappeared. A large number had been widowed.

"A major part of the government funds, foreign funds, housing, roads, schools and other facilities are provided to Tamils and Muslims living in the North and East more than the other areas of the country. They are being gradually made to live a comfortable life. It is observed that some countries have betrayed the Tamil community for their own interests to divide the country into two.

"They are attempting to divide Sri Lanka, specially to break India to portions. The great scholar Krishna Menon once stated that the Trincomalee Harbour has to be protected to maintain the unitary status of India.

"We must think as to why Rajiv Gandhi and the Indian Government opposed the attempt of former President J R Jayewardene to handover the oil tanks at Trincomalee to America. Sri Lanka should be totally committed and help India maintain its present unitary status.

"That is our protection too. Let us cordially, friendly and honestly discuss this matter considering the general public.

"We must not forget, that in the middle part of the 20th century when the world was equally balanced in power. Patrice Lumumba was killed along with many other leaders in Asian countries.

"A very powerful and large country, Russia, which belonged to Europe and Asia was divided into parts and separated. No one is exactly aware as to how it happened.

"Although Sri Lanka ended its 30 year war situation through a humanitarian operation, the idea of the developed countries was that the LTTE could never be defeated. Therefore, they try to insult us by forwarding false information such as the Darusman Report, Channel 4 telecast, foreign parliamentary discussions and so on.

"During this short period the economic growth rate of Sri Lanka has increased to eight percent.

"It is clear that various strategies are being used to stifle our progress. Therefore, we question whether it is proper for educated and intelligent people to break the economic and social development of the country by false and foolish ideas, such as, the arsenic story, oil crisis, the Katunayake incident the university lecturers' issue, protest on elders pension scheme etc.

"There were invasions in Sri Lanka not only after 1956, but, also before that. In 104 AD Pulasti captured part of the country. In 205 AD Panayamara, Piliyarama, Datiya, Peetiya, Elara conquered the country. In 436 AD, Thirithara and Dathiya reigned Sri Lanka. In 479 AD Prince Mugalan brought an Army from India and fought.

"Pottakutta, the commander of King Agrabodhi who reigned in 1673 AD was a Tamil citizen. He built Buddhist Pirivenas and religious centres.

"This situation existed throughout world history. Greek, Roman, French, English, Portuguese and Spanish Kings captured Asia and Africa by force. King Parakramabahu the great captured some parts of India and Burma and made Sri Lanka an empire.

"I am delighted to say that President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a politician with noble sense of humanity, has understood the economic, social, racial and religious problems of the people and acts according to the Mahinda Chintana programme to solve them.

"Today, a political dialogue is in progress. I very respectfully request cooperation in settling the Tamil problem reasonably and satisfactorily."