‘LLRC report stumped pessimists’

*independent actors accept report

*TNA should take part in the PSC

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The government presented the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report to Parliament earlier than expected to the surprise of many pessimists, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Minister Rambukwella addressing the weekly Cabinet briefing at the Information Department yesterday said that these pessimists had earlier said that the LLRC report would never be forwarded to Parliament.

“When the LLRC was appointed, these narrow minded international and local organisations said the commission was partial and biased. Hence, there would not be any fruitful outcomes. They also said even if the report of the LLRC was produced, no one could rely on such a report on the grounds that the commission was not impartial. According to them, the controversial Darusman report was much more credible than the LLRC report,” he said. However, contrary to many local and international allegations and forecasts the final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission was presented to Parliament. The eight-member commission dwelt lengthily on the lessons to be learnt from the events of the war, their attendant concerns and recommended measures to ensure that there would be no recurrence of such a situation.

The LLRC report is being accepted by many impartial parties, the minister noted.

The minister added that it was the duty of opposition parties to appoint members to the Parliamentary Select Committee to look into the issues of the Tamil community. The opposition parties including TNA so far have failed to appoint their members to this Parliamentary Select Committee even though the government has already appointed its members. If these Tamil political parties really feel for their community, they should appoint their representatives to this Committee.