The Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran has called for assurances to be made on the “security” and “safety” of the diaspora, stating that the Tamil areas of the island wrecked by war need their participation to recover.

Lamenting the lack of progress in developing the livelihood of the Tamils war torn areas of the island, Wigneswaran called the diaspora a “competitive resource” adding,

“They have the technical know how, along with resources to contribute towards post-war rebuilding. They have the socio-cultural links with their motherland and also genuine interest, which are important ingredients to foster transfer of knowledge and technical know-how.”

He stated "the Government of Sri Lanka does not have the financial resources and professional technical input or knowledge capital to contribute towards an effective post war recovery” and said,

“For the diaspora professionals to come over and participate in the post war recovery processes we need to have pragmatic, meaningful structures and modalities in place to ensure their security, safety, motivation and participation.”

Canadian Tamil businessman Anthonypillai Mahendrarajah was murdered when he returned to Vanni in 2012, after a reported conflict with the military over occupied property.

In a speech in Colombo this week, he added that since 2009 the ethnic conflict on the island has “deepened”, in particular stating there was an “immediate and urgent need to set about demilitarising” the North, adding,

“With about 150,000 soldiers stationed in the Northern Province, would you expect our young widows and young girls to be safe?”

Wigneswaran went on to say,

“The military presence directly and indirectly leads to numerous vices and has forced women into prostitution. The Army directly interferes in the provincial administration by influencing and participating in the decision making process of the various sectors of the administration.”

Further slamming the militarisation of the North, he noted that a two Hindu temples and a school had recently been “razed to the ground” by the Army, and even bemoaned interference in the Provincial Council, saying,

“The Army directly interferes in the provincial administration by influencing and participating in the decision making process of the various sectors of the administration.”

Speaking on “Post War Socio – Economic Development”, the Chief Minister concluded that in order to move forward there must be an

“immediate and urgent need to set about demilitarising the society at large, including reduction of armed forces, disbanding of paramilitary apparatus, demilitarisation of civilian institutions and curbing militarisation of economic life of people of the North and East”.

See his full speech here.