The Jathika Hela Urumaya, a Sinhala-nationalist party in the ruling coalition led by the UNP, said it had forced the withdrawal of a cabinet paper, which proposed the granting of government compensation to LTTE members who were injured during the armed conflict.
“Some ministers submitted a cabinet paper proposing that the injured LTTE terrorists should be compensated by the government. I strongly objected it and it had to be withdrawn,” energy minister and JHU general secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka said.
The minister also objected to the recently proposed ‘Sri Lankan diaspora festival’, to be organised by the government, and discussions held with diaspora groups, saying it would instigate “racism and terrorism”.
“There has been no discussion within the government about this. We do not think hosting such a discussion with organisations banned by the defense ministry through a gazette notification would ensure peace in the country. It is an instigation of terrorism,” Mr. Ranawaka said, referring to the recent meeting in London between Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, and representatives of the Global Tamil Forum and the TNA.
He said if this issue was to be resolved, Tamil diaspora organisations should “accept the unitary state of the country”, adding that issues could not be resolved by holding discussions while the organisations were still supporting Tamil Eelam.
“This government has not received any mandate to have discussion with separatists. It should obtain a mandate to have such discussions,” he said.
TNA spokesperson denies knowledge of London meet (09 June 2015)