@GGPonnambalam 'Astonished and Shocked' by @sajithpremadasa saying the opposition won't be able to support the government in Geneva, given the oppression against protesters.
— LankaFiles (@lankafiles) September 2, 2022
"Sadly, That is a slip that speaks the truth. ...#Tamil people cannot expect anything from this house". pic.twitter.com/W7cKQEFPeN
Speaking in parliament leader of the Tamil National People’s Front, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, slammed the hypocrisy of Sri Lanka’s opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, for his unwillingness to stand with Tamils at Geneva whilst alleging concern for Sinhala demonstrators.
Ponnambalam notes that whilst Premadasa has claimed that the opposition will not support the government in Geneva due to the use of the military to oppress demonstrators; he is not willing to stand with Tamils.
“Who goes to Geneva every day? Who wants to raise their voices in Geneva, it is the Tamils."
"Because of the genocide that was committed, it is we who go to Geneva. It is we who ask the international community to put our issue on the agenda”, Ponnambalam told Parliament.
“The leader of the opposition may not be able to support the government in Geneva because the military is oppressing the Sinhalese”, Ponnambalam noted. The TNPF leader maintained that Premadasa's justification essentially amounted to;
“If the Sinhalese are being oppressed, then we will stand in principle but if only the Tamils are oppressed, then we will back you”.
Read more here: Ahead of UNHRC session, Sinhalese protest in Geneva