Co-operation with Sri Lankan expatriates : SL missions to play greater role

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Co-operation with Sri Lankan expatriates : SL missions to play greater role

Senior diplomat and one time Chief of the Peace Secretariat Bernard Goonatilake yesterday said that offspring of Sri Lankans who left the country have never come to their Motherland and they are in the forefront of agitation against Sri Lanka.
According to Goonatilake, they have no idea of the history of the conflict nor what is going on in Sri Lanka.
He was of the view that these younger members of the expatriate community could be radicalized by the groups in such countries and Sri Lanka will have to face the repercussions.
Goonatilake was of the opinion that Sri Lankan missions in foreign countries have a greater role in enhancing co-operation with the Sri Lankan expatriates in foreign countries.
Goonatilake was giving evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission which started public hearings at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Centre, Colombo.
The eight-member Commission will record evidence from diplomats, intellectuals and prominent figures in society for seven days.
He stressed on a viable mechanism that ensures constant engagement with Sri Lanka's expatriates.
Goonatilake opined that there are countries where separate ministers have been appointed to look into the welfare and make constant engagement with their expatriates abroad.
He added that there are radicalized expatriates who cannot be won over easily.
He said there are expatriates who are going after politicians and making representations to organizations such as the World Bank and IMF against Sri Lanka.
Goonatilake added that the Government should have more closer co-ordination with foreign governments to deal with individuals who are promoting the LTTE in their lands. He stressed that fund raising activities are going on in such countries and the receipts are still being signed under the name of Prabhakaran, though he was killed by Sri Lankan forces 15 months ago.
Asked if the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) failed in their duty by Commission, Chairman and Former Attorney General CR de Silva, PC, Goonatilake said the SLMM had no power to take action against the violations against the Ceasefire Agreement.
"They can only bark and they did not have authority to bite and the LTTE ignored the bark," he added.
Bernard Goonathilake did not attribute the North and East conflict to a ethnic differences. He said that it was not a conflict based on ethnicity but an attempt to gain the control of certain parts of the country.
He added that the desire of Sri Lankan expatriates to return to their country even for a brief period was evident after the Ceasefire Agreement. Goonathilake said the hotels in Colombo and suburbs were filled with Sri Lankan expatriates.
"There is an inherent desire of people who left Sri Lanka to visit the country," he added. He proposed that the High Security Zones in Jaffna should be reduced gradually and the people who were living in the area be returned their properties.
Goonathilake stated that the Government should provide more infrstrastructure facilities to the Northern Province. He was of the view that the authorities should ensure a return of the IDPs and provision of livelihood to them.
The farmers and fishermen should receive assistance to uplift their livelihood for a considerable time. He said the new mechanism such as dual citizenship should be promoted to reconcile the people of different communities.
He was of the view that getting dual citizenship is a cumbersome process in Sri Lanka and this should be made more easier to win over the Sri Lankan communities domiciled in foreign lands.
Commission Chairman C.R.De Silva PC. Members Dr. Amrith Rohan Perera PC, Prof Karunaratne Hangahawatte, Chandripal Chanmugam, HMGS Palihakkara, Manohari Ramanathan, Maxwell Parakrama Paranagama and Commission Secretary S.M. Samarakoon were present.
Courtesy : Daily News