SEPARATE "TAMIL HOMELAND" NOT PRACTICAL: US CONGRESSMAN

SRI LANKA CONSULATE OFFICE - COLOMBIA AND VENEZUELA October 1, 2006

WASHINGTON DC: Congressman Frank Pallone, at a recently held discussion, said that a separate Tamil homeland is not practical and unrealistic. The Sri Lankan delegation, led by Minister of Health and the Leader for Peace Negotiations Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, made special arrangements to meet with members of the United States Congress to discuss matters pertaining to the current situation in Sri Lanka. Several meetings held in Washington D.C. on 21 September 2006. Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) supported Minister De Silva at these discussions. Members of the delegation also included Mr. Jeff Goonewardena (Sri Lanka Consulate General to Colombia and Venezuela) who organized the meetings, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha (Deputy Chief of Mission to the US Embassy of Sri Lanka) and few others.

Congressman Pallone, a Democrat, expressed his frustration to the violence that sparked since late last year. He was of the view that neither the government nor the LTTE had any intentions for peace. However, Minister De Silva highlighted that the Rajapaksa Government's commitment for peace began back in his election manifesto and that his undertakings for the people of Sri Lanka remain unchanged, even as at today. Minister further explained that the government resumed talks with the LTTE in February this year in Geneva after a three-year break, but the LTTE boycotted negotiations the second round of talks in Oslo. "The government was ready with a maximal devolution package within a unitary state," said the minister.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kohona pointed out that the LTTE continued to secure arms and funding from around the world through extra-ordinary means and requested the support of the US Government to strengthen the current crack down by the FBI for which Congressman Pallone agreed to extend his support. In addition, Pallone expressed his view that non-LTTE Tamils were afraid of the LTTE and asked the question why the LTTE does not want peace. De Silva responded by noting that majority of the Tamils in Sri Lanka live outside of the North and East and they coexist peacefully with others, while those who live in the North and East also want peace, but unfortunately the LTTE pronounces peace only to strengthen its armory, which only indicates terror to achieving their objective.

As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka, Pallone asked the delegation "what can we do to help." Minister De Silva reiterated that Sri Lanka is genuine to end the conflict through negotiation and requested the support of the US Government to compel the LTTE to renounce violence and return to the negotiating table in good faith. "We like to promote peace; we are frustrated that it is not happening" said the Congressman before expressing his appreciation to the delegation for taking the initiatives to visit Washington in view of discussing the situation personally with the Congress members.

The Sri Lankan team also met with several other members of the Congress, including Congressman Chris Van Hollen, member of the committees on education, workforce, government reforms and judiciary. When Congressman Van Hollen questioned India's role in the peace process, Minister De Silva explained that India was in the forefront to Sri Lanka's peace process back in the eighties, but he said that their geo-politics restricted a full-fledged hand to end the conflict.

In addition to Van Hollen, Congressman William Jefferson, member of the budget committee; Congressman Scott Garrett, member of the financial services and budget committee; and Congresswoman Shelly Berkley, member of the committees on international relations, veteran's affairs, transportation and infrastructure; all expressed their interest in support of a negotiated settlement for the ethnic issue and were thankful for presenting Government's position. In addition to the Congress members, California Senator Diane Feinstein also showed interest to see a unitary state when she referred Sri Lanka to the size of West Virginia and asked "how can you possibly separate such a small island."

Minister De Silva produced facts to all the members to clarify the incorrect perception conveyed to the international community that the Government of Sri Lanka had resumed a full-scaled war, particularly to Congressman Rush Holt (member of the permanent select committee on intelligence) who was disturbed by the misleading information on the ground situation. Minister De Silva re-assured the President's commitment to peace and explained to Congressman Holt that the recent offensive position taken by Sri Lanka military was only part of an attempt to bring normalcy to the people of the North and East. He said the LTTE deprived the civilians with drinking water, and in a separate incident, thousands of Muslims fled their homes due the provocative acts by the LTTE. The Government found no other alternative but to protect those people and help restore their basic needs, Minister and Kohona said.

Congressman Holt also mentioned that he received many reports about Tsunami aid not reaching the North and East, to which the Minister responded as "false information." In addition to Minister's response, Mr. Jeff Goonewardena told Congressman Holt that he himself, under the blessings of President Rajapaksa (then Prime Minister), visited several areas of the North to provide humanitarian aid and to build a children's playground, which Goonewardena mentioned as an example of the Sinhalese people's commitment in supporting victims of the North and East. When Congressman Holt raised his disapproval on the attack on the "school," Kohona- having explained government's position on the attack, clarified that even the LTTE does not classify it as an attack on a "school" but as an attack on an "orphanage," to point out the extent of misinformation appearing within the International Community. Holt however commended steps taken by the Government to invite international forensic agencies to inquire into such incidences and showed great interest to see Sri Lanka's peace materializing.

Following each discussion, Minister De Silva and Dr. Kohona extended their gratitude to the US Government for fighting against the LTTE's movements within the United States and appealed for its support to politically settle the two-decade long conflict.