Udayan writing with racist bias and sowing hatred

Ridma Dissanayake

The Udayan newspaper has highlighted certain statements made by a catholic priest and a former judge with to sow communal hatred.

According to Udayan the priest and the judge during a recent visit to the North and East had said that the present government suppressed the Tamils' rights.

According to the Udayan editorial the priest and the former judge have said that although the war has ended Tamils in the North and South are still living in fear and anxiety and that the government has suppressed the rights of Tamils.

The priest and judge had also said the government had extensively deployed the Security Forces in the North and East and was playing a crafty role by telling the international community that it was ready to hold the Northern Provincial Council election.

Commenting on Udayan's editorial Mullaitivu District Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) former MP S. Kanakaratna said several groups who visit the North and East are expressing biased views aiming to embarrass the government.

"They are telling that the government has suppressed the rights and privileges of Tamils.

They are saying that the freedom of Tamils have been limited due to presence of the armed forces.

But we would like to remind them about the situation that prevailed in these two provinces before May 19, 2009.

I would like to ask if the Tamils living in the North and East enjoyed freedom before end to terrorism?"

Kanakaratne said ; "During that period the LTTE members kidnapped small Tamil children and trained them as child soldiers.

They gave T 56 and Cyanide capsules to the children.

They took everything earned by the Tamils by force while killing political leaders, clergy and civilians as they wished ".

"They should remember that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader who restored freedom, peace and harmony in all parts of Sri Lanka and it is this government that granted the voting rights of Tamils in the North and East.

In such situation the Udayan has no reason for criticizing the government and all these allegations are baseless," Kanakarathna stated.