Ranil’s comments on LLRC condemned

Rasika Somarathna and Priyanka Kurugala

* Anti - Sri Lankan statement - Ven Prof Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera

* All Sri Lankans should rally together - Gomin Dayasri

Several religious and civil society leaders yesterday condemned Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report and described it as a pre-emptive strike to put Sri Lanka into difficulty on the eve of United Nations Human Rights Council’s deliberations in March.

Anti - Sri Lankan statement - Ven Prof Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera

All Sri Lankans should rally together - Gomin Dayasri

They also called it as move to discredit the country in the eyes of the international community for petty political mileage and added that it was not befitting of the high office he holds as a political leader of the country.

Senior Lawyer Gomin Dayasri commenting on the Opposition Leader’s statement said: “The LLRC report has been described as constructive and sufficient by the western countries who were critical of Sri Lanka.

It is only the TNA, certain NGOs and Ranil Wickremesinghe who have been critical of the report”.He also noted that even then the Opposition leader has been reluctantly compelled to admit the value of the report because of its balanced presentation.

Dayasri said: “In the case of the TNA, it is understandable because they do not want amity between the Sinhala and Tamil people because they hope to get votes at the expense of creating a Sinhala monster in the eyes of Tamil people”.

The leading lawyer said that UNP supporters were patriotic during the war and they would differ from Ranil Wickremesinghe to be critical of the report which is being appreciated even by the west, he said.

“When the leader of the Opposition devalues the report, it is not beneficial at a time when the forces against the country want to criticise our military on the charges of war crimes. This is a time when all Sri Lankans should rally together,” he added.

Ven Prof Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera described it as an anti - Sri Lankan statement made with the sole intention of putting the government into difficulty.

The thera said that the country had made impressive strides since the conflict ended.

“The government has made commendable efforts to restore normality in the former conflict affected areas and rebuild the lives and infrastructure,” the thera said.

“This kind of statement from the country’s Opposition leader could provide fuel to those who are looking for such an opportunity to put the country into difficulty and thus could reverse the gains made.”

The thera also noted that the government, despite difficulties, had rendered yeoman service to safeguard human rights. He also questioned the timing of the statement made by the UNP leader when certain elements were trying put the government into difficulty at the UNHRC. Patriotic People’s Movement president Siripala Gunasinghe said the statement made by the UNP leader was a shameless attempt to take political mileage ahead of the UNHRC sessions.

Vidyajothi Ven Dumbara Amarawansa thera said the Opposition Leader should give up his disgraceful style of political practices and take on the government in a true democratic spirit.

Several others also condemned the UNP leader’s statement and described it as one which sought petty political mileage at the expense of the country.