Tamil organisations worldwide expressed shock and sadness at the tragic loss of life in a landslide that affected the Upcountry region this week, and offered their condolences to the families involved.
The landslide, which struck early on Wednesday morning in Meeriyabedda in Haldummula, is believed to have killed over 200 people, who were buried alive.
“The Tamil National Alliance extends its deepest sympathies to the victims of the tragic landslide at Meeriyabedda, Haldummulla,” the party said in a statement on Thursday.
“Our thoughts are with their families and those involved in the rescue operations. We strongly support all efforts to provide relief and avert further tragedy at this time of need ,” the TNA added.
Describing the incident as the “greatest disaster of the year”, the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) said it was “shocked to learn about the disaster” and blamed the Sri Lankan state for unsafe policies that led to the loss of life.
“It is estimated that more than 300 may have lost their lives. This is the greatest disaster of the year. We lost many thousands of people due to Sri Lankan government’s genocide [against the Tamil people], we are even more saddened that this happened to our relations before we could recover ourselves from that tragedy,” the party said in a statement in Tamil.
“Knowing that this disaster could be avoided doubles our grief. Though the National buildings research centre declared this place as unsafe, the government did not take action to settle the people in a safer place. It is the government’s irresponsibility that led to the people having to face this massive disaster. We condemn this carelessness of the government,” said the TNPF.
Also criticising the Sri Lankan government's policies, the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) warned that the suffering of the Upcountry Tamil people involved in the landslide would be exacerbated by the state's longstanding repressive policies against them.
“Upcountry Tamil society that supports the Sri Lanka economy is a society subjected to double oppression. They are subjected to economic exploitation as a working community and also subjected to horrific racial oppression. Racial oppression in the name of citizenship law was exercised on them, and they also lost many lives in riots that happened from time to time,” the TCSF, a network of civil society activists in the North-East, said in a statement.
“We empathise with the Upcountry people as we are an oppressed community ourselves. This disaster has caused a major loss in the lives of Upcountry people who were living denied of basic amenities. We believe though that they will recover from this major disaster using the strength in their soul,” said the TCSF.
Messages of condolences were also issued by Tamil diaspora organisations, including the Global Tamil Forum and US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC).
The British Tamils Forum (BTF) said it was shared the grief of the Tamil people of Meeriyabedha in Badulla district, and called on the British government to assist in the relief effort.
"Tamil relief workers in the Up Country said more than 300 people are feared missing and there is no hope for survivors," the BTF said in a statement.
"Several school children survived the catastrophe as they had gone to schools, the reports further said. Many children have become orphaned. 95% of the affected people are Tamil people employed in the tea plantations."
"BTF calls upon the fellow diaspora Tamils to provide all possible assistance to the affected Tamils through the NGO's and calls upon the UK government and the UN to provide immediate disaster relief to the affected families and children," the group added.
See related articles:
UN agency says it is ready to support Upcountry landslide rescue (30 Oct 2014)
Govt accused of neglecting Upcountry Tamils after hundreds buried in landslide (29 Oct 2014)
The landslide, which struck early on Wednesday morning in Meeriyabedda in Haldummula, is believed to have killed over 200 people, who were buried alive.
“The Tamil National Alliance extends its deepest sympathies to the victims of the tragic landslide at Meeriyabedda, Haldummulla,” the party said in a statement on Thursday.
“Our thoughts are with their families and those involved in the rescue operations. We strongly support all efforts to provide relief and avert further tragedy at this time of need ,” the TNA added.
Describing the incident as the “greatest disaster of the year”, the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) said it was “shocked to learn about the disaster” and blamed the Sri Lankan state for unsafe policies that led to the loss of life.
“It is estimated that more than 300 may have lost their lives. This is the greatest disaster of the year. We lost many thousands of people due to Sri Lankan government’s genocide [against the Tamil people], we are even more saddened that this happened to our relations before we could recover ourselves from that tragedy,” the party said in a statement in Tamil.
“Knowing that this disaster could be avoided doubles our grief. Though the National buildings research centre declared this place as unsafe, the government did not take action to settle the people in a safer place. It is the government’s irresponsibility that led to the people having to face this massive disaster. We condemn this carelessness of the government,” said the TNPF.
Also criticising the Sri Lankan government's policies, the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) warned that the suffering of the Upcountry Tamil people involved in the landslide would be exacerbated by the state's longstanding repressive policies against them.
“Upcountry Tamil society that supports the Sri Lanka economy is a society subjected to double oppression. They are subjected to economic exploitation as a working community and also subjected to horrific racial oppression. Racial oppression in the name of citizenship law was exercised on them, and they also lost many lives in riots that happened from time to time,” the TCSF, a network of civil society activists in the North-East, said in a statement.
“We empathise with the Upcountry people as we are an oppressed community ourselves. This disaster has caused a major loss in the lives of Upcountry people who were living denied of basic amenities. We believe though that they will recover from this major disaster using the strength in their soul,” said the TCSF.
Messages of condolences were also issued by Tamil diaspora organisations, including the Global Tamil Forum and US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC).
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The British Tamils Forum (BTF) said it was shared the grief of the Tamil people of Meeriyabedha in Badulla district, and called on the British government to assist in the relief effort.
"Tamil relief workers in the Up Country said more than 300 people are feared missing and there is no hope for survivors," the BTF said in a statement.
"Several school children survived the catastrophe as they had gone to schools, the reports further said. Many children have become orphaned. 95% of the affected people are Tamil people employed in the tea plantations."
"BTF calls upon the fellow diaspora Tamils to provide all possible assistance to the affected Tamils through the NGO's and calls upon the UK government and the UN to provide immediate disaster relief to the affected families and children," the group added.
See related articles:
UN agency says it is ready to support Upcountry landslide rescue (30 Oct 2014)
Govt accused of neglecting Upcountry Tamils after hundreds buried in landslide (29 Oct 2014)