NMAT condemns the killing of P. Raviraj

Roshan Chaminda Secretary, NMAT

The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) condemns without reservation the assassination of TNA parliamentarian P. Raviraj. It is without doubt an unmistakable act of terrorism and we call upon the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation to apprehend his killers.

The NMAT is of the view that Mr. Raviraj was an apologist for the LTTE and therefore a spokesperson for terrorism. The NMAT, on the other hand, is appreciative of the fact that Mr. Raviraj was nevertheless a person who chose the democratic mainstream to articulate his views. He was elected, even though the process that brought him to parliament was clearly flawed, again thanks to the LTTE. Raviraj expressed his views openly, making full use of the democratic space available in the vast spaces that terrorism has not been able to invade.

The NMAT is of the view that the only beneficiary of Raviraj's death is the LTTE since that organization can use the incident to pin the blame on the government as per their own-quoted excuse 'it didn't happen in areas under our control'.

'The NMAT notes that terrorism does not see anyone as a permanent friend or a permanent enemy and each and everyone is but a disposable entitity in the furtherance of stated and unstated objectives. Raviraj is not the first Tamil who spoke for and with the LTTE to be assassinated.

The NMAT, in the interest of democracy and the need to eliminate the terrorist threat urges the government and the police to investigate this assassination thoroughly and bring to book the killers.