fï b;sydifha w÷re;u mehhs( foaYmd,k{hka iq¿ msßilf.a Wu;=jg rfÜ ish¿ ck;dj jkaÈ f.ùfï wjYH;djla ke; -tcdmfhka úfYaI ksfõokhla

Logo_UNP_13.02.2014

^,xld B ksõia -2014'fmn'13" m'j'5'30& Y%S ,xldj fï fudfydf;a miq lrñka" isákqfha" ;u b;sydifha w÷re;u mehls' iy;slju" rgla f,i wm isákqfha m%md;hla bÈßfhah' fï fÄokSh ;;a;ajh we;s ùu úIhys iïmQ¾fKhkau j.lsj hq;af;a rdcmlaI md,kh nj iqmeyeÈ,sh'

;%ia;jdohg tfrysj jQ hqoaOfha wjika Nd.fha § isÿ jQjd hhs mejfik udkj ysñlï lvùï iïnkaOfhka" ieug ms<s.; yels" wNHka;r mÍlaIKhla mj;ajk f,ig cd;Hka;r m%cdj jir lsysmhla ;siafia Y%S ,xld rchg wjOdrKh lrñka isà' kuq;a" fï iïnkaOfhka jk Y%S ,xld rcfha jHdc iy.; l%shdldß;ajh ;=< by; ldrKh ms<sn| cd;Hka;r mÍlaIKhla meje;aúh hq;= njg woyila fï jk úg cd;Hka;rh u;=lrñka isà' tlai;a cd;sl mlaIh yd ;j;a fndffyda fofkla fmkajd ÿka wdldrhg rch fï ldrKh iïnkafOhka ksjerÈj lghq;= kï" we;sj ;sfnk fï ;;a;ajh myiqfjkau j<lajd .; yelsj ;snqKs' tlai;a cd;sl mlaIh f,i wm md,lhkag fmkajd ÿkafka" mqrjeis whs;Skag .re lrñka" Tjqkf.a cd;sh" wd.u" Wmka ia:dkh fkdi,lñka ;ukg tfrysj" t,a, ù we;s nrm;, fpdaokd iïnkaOfhka" rfÜ ish¿ fokdg ms<s.; yels wdldrhlg tajd wduka;%Kh lrk f,ih' ta .eg¿j,g úi÷ï ,nd fok f,ih' kuq;a wjdikdjlg fuka ta fjkqjg fmfkkakg we;af;a " kS;sfha md,kh" j.ùu" wLKavj Ldokh ùu yd Y%S ,xld rdcHfha úYajdikSh Ndjh ì| jeàuh' hqoaOfha wjika Nd.fha § isÿ jQjd hhs fpdaokd t,a, ù we;s isÿùï iïnkaOfhka fidhd ne,Sug ;uka wNHka;r mÍlaIKhla mj;ajk njg 2009 uehs udifha § tlai;a cd;Skaf.a uyf,alï nEka

lSx uQka uy;d furgg meñks wjia:dfõ § YS ,xld ckdêm;sjrhd mqoa.,slju fmdfrdkaÿjla ,nd fok ,§' cd;Hka;r m%cdj i;=gq lsÍu i|yd tl, tu fmdfrdkaÿj rch uka;rhla fuka ks;r cm lrk ,§' flfia fj;;a fï rfÜ ck;dj È.= l,la ;siaffia oek f.k isá i;Hh cd;Hka;r m%cdj o fï jk úg f;areï f.k we;' rdcmlaI md,fkha jpk" fmdfrdkaÿ hkq ysia m%,dm muKla nj Tjqka wo w;aoelSï weiqßkau f;areï f.k ;sfí' rfÜ wêlrK moaO;sfha iqcd;Ndjh ì| jÜgjñka" m%cd;ka;Sh wdh;k ÿ¾j, lrñka" 17 jk wdKavqlu jHjia:d ixfYdaOkh wfydais lrñka" ksoyia udOH yd foaYmd,k úreoaO u;OdÍka ovhï lrñka" j;auka md,kh" È.ska È.gu Bg wjYH ffO¾hh imhñka isà' w.úksiqre YsrdKs nKavdrkdhl uy;añhg tfrysj f.kd kS;s úfrdaê fodaIdNsfhda. fhdackdj;a iu. md,l frÔuh ;u rfÜ ck;djg yd cd;Hka;r m%cdjg meyeÈ,sj tl fohla m%o¾Ykh flf<ah' ta" fpdaokd t,a, ù" l:d nyg ,laj we;s udkj ysñlï lvùï iïnkaOfhka úYajdikSh wNHka;r mÍlaIKhla ;jÿrg;a wfmalaId l< fkdyels njh'

md,l frÔfuha wdYs¾jdoh ,;a lKavdhï úiska wd.ñl yd jd¾.sl iq¿;rhla b,lal lr.ksñka isÿlrk m%pKav lshd È.ska È.gu j¾Okh ùu ;=< iyÔjkh i|yd jk rcfha Wkkaÿj ms<sn| idOdrK ielhla ´kEu flfkl= ;=< u;= fõ' úfYafIhkau fkdkj;ajd isÿjk meyer .ekSï" ysxikhka" udOHhg isÿ lrk ;¾ckhka" iudc yd wd¾:sl foayfha iEu wxYhlau yuqodlrKh ùu" jerÈlrkakkag ksoyfia tajd lrf.k hEug bv ,nd §u" hkd§h iu.ska" md,l mx;sh" udkj ysñlï kS;sh yd wdo¾Yhka wj{dfjka hq;=j neyer lr ;sfí' fï ish,a, j¾;udkfha Y%S ,xldj uqyqK foñka isák lK.dgqodhl ;;a;ajhg oeä fia n,md we;' YsIag cd;Ska w;r" f.!rjkSh rdcHhla f,i l,la jecUqkq uq;a" fï jk úg Y%S ,xld rch m%cd;ka;jd§ f,dalh ;=< Èfkka Èk yqfol,d fjñka" isà' muK blaujd wd{dodhl md,khka iu. iïnkaO;d meje;aùug lghq;= lsÍug hEu ;=< Y%S ,xldj" iEfyk ÿrlg" ;uka úiskau ta ;;a;ajh Wod lr f.k ;sfí' ieneúkau ta zb,a,ka lEuZ fï cd;Hka;rj yqfol,d ùu" msgqmi jevlrk m%Odk ldrKhls'

udkj ysñlï iïnkaOj rg ;=< we;s ckm%sh u;h iu. tlÕ fkdùu foaYmd,kslj wjdisodhl jQ uq;a md,l mx;sfha j¾.jd§ m%pdrK fkdi,lñka" ta ms<sn|j m%;sm;a;suh ia:djrhla wLKavj tcdmhg mej;=Ks' udkj ysñlï hkq furg ck;djg tfrys Tjqkg ysñlula fkdue;s ixl,amhla fkdjk nj wmf.a ia:djrh úh' wm i;=" tu wkai;= l< fkdyels" whs;Ska wdrlaId lr .ekSu i|yd ta fjkqfjka iduqysl Wkkaÿjla mej;sh hq;=h'

wOHdmkh i|yd we;s whs;sh" idOdrK;ajfha whs;sh" idOdrK kvq úNd.hla i|yd we;s whs;sh" ysxikfhka ñ§ug we;s whs;sh" kS;s úfrdaê w;awvx.=fjka je,lSug we;s whs;sh" hkd§ fï whs;Ska o Ôj;a ùug we;s whs;sh yd iudk f,i jeo.;a jk udkj whs;Skah' ukj ysñlï hkq fï ish¿ whs;Ska flrys wjOdkh fhduq lsÍuh'

îug iqÿiq mdkSh c,h" b,a,ñka" je,sfõßfha ck;dj l< Woaff>daIkhg" rch" m%;spdr oelajqfha th u¾okhg hqo yuqodj tu m%foaYhg msg;a lr hjñks' bka miq tys§ ol=fKa ck;djg oel .; yels jq fÄockl ;;a;ajh" wu;lùug ;rï fya;=jla ;ju we;ehs is;d .; fkdyelsh' tys isÿ jQ ukqIH >d;k yd f,a fi,ùï" jd¾.sl yd wd.ñl iSud w;sl%uKh lrñka" tajd fkd;lñka wjYH kï ;uka iSudj blaujd hEug iQodkï njg rch ck;djg ÿka mQ¾j mKsjqvhla úh' fï olajdu je,sfõßh iuqy >d;k iïnkaOfhka" j.lsj hq;= tlÿ fyda mqoa.f,hl= iïnkaOfhka l%shd;aul ùug rdcmlaI md,kh wiu;aj isà'

uE;l §" ud;f,a iy ukakdru" m%oaYj,ska iuQy ñkS j<j,a folla fidhd .kakd ,§' fï jk úg ud;f,a iuqy ñkSjf<ka" ñksia wia:s leì,s 154 la yuq ù we;s w;r" ukakdrfuka yuq ù we;s wia:s leì,s ixLHdj 60 la muK fõ' tu iuQy ñkSj<j,a iïnkaOfhka rch yd tys m%ldYlhka olajk m%;spdr iy;slju úu;sh okjk iq¿h' fï iuqy ñkSj<j,aj, j<,d ;sfnk" wfmau jQ mqrjeishka ms,sn| úuiSu" ta ms,sn| m%Yak lsÍu rdcfødays l%shdjla jkafka flfiao@ Tjqka urd ouk ,oafoa ljqreka úiska o hkak rcfhka úuid isàu foaYfødayS l%shdjla o@ fï iuqy >d;kj,g iïnkaO jQjka" wêlrKh yuqjg bÈßm;a lrk f,i b,a,Su l=uka;%Khla jkafka flfia o@

udkj ysñlï ms<sn| we;s l;sldj fjkia lsßug oeka ld,h t<U ;sfí' 2013 wff.daia;= fojeks Èk je,sfõßfha § isÿ jq ta l+m%lg isÿ ùu tu fjki i|yd wjYH moku imhd § ;sfí'

mqrjeis wdrlaIdj ;yjqre lsÍfï j.lSu mjrd § we;s nf,õ. úiska" wfma weia mkdmsg ifydaor rgjeishka fjä ;nd urd ouk wdldrh h<s n,d isàfï" wjYH;djla ;j;a fkdue;' tneúka" udkj ysñlï hkq" Y%S ,xldfõ mqrjeisfhl=gu ksoyfia yd wNsudfkhka hq;=j Ôj;aùug we;s whs;Ska nj jgyd .ekSu jeo.;ah'

fï w;r mßmd,khg iïnkaO rcfha m%n,fhla miq.sh od úfoaYhl § b,a,d ;snqfKa W.;a mdvï yd m%;sikaOdk fldñiï jd¾;dj iïmQ¾fKhkau n,d;aul lsÍu i|yd ;j;a jir 05 l ld,hla ;ukg wjYH njh' th ieneúkau ydiH cklh' 17 jk ixfYdaOkh wfydais lrñka tl /hla ;=< 18 jk ixfYdaOkh ia:dms; l< md,khlg" i;s follg muKla iSud jQ wêfõ.S ls%hdj,shla ;=< w.úksiqrejßh Oqrfhka bj;a l< md,khlg" fvd,¾ ì,shk .Kka jákd uyd mßudK jHdmD;s i|yd yefrk ;emEf,ka wkque;sh ,nd fok rchla wm rfÜ ish¿ cd;Ska w;r" iduh iy iyÔjkh ;yjqre lr,Sug foaYSh lñgqjla fhdackd l< ks¾foaY l%shd;aul lsÍug ;j;a jirl myl ld,hla b,a,d isàu ydiH ckl fkdjkafka o@ fï ish,af,ka fmkakqï lrkqfha rg jeishka flrys" md,l frÔuh ;=< we;s wldreKslNdjh" fkdie,ls,a, ñi fjk hula fkdfõ'

j;auka rcfha mgq cd;sjd§ m%pdrl jHdmD;s" ;jÿrg;a wm úYajdi fkdlrk nj ks¾Nhj mejiSug ld,h meñK we;' ud;f,a iuQy ñkSjf<a j<,d we;af;a isxy,hka o ukakdrfï j<,d we;af;a øúvhka o hkak fuys§ jeo.;a ffkdfõ' jvd jeo.;a jkqfha ta ish¿ fokd YS% ,dxlslhka h hkakh' tu wia:s fldgia ldf.a fyda ifydaorhl=f.a" ifydaoßhlf.a" mqf;l=f.a" fyda ÈhKshlf.a úh yelsh' Tjqkaf.a mjqf,a idudðlhka yg ;u ióm;uhkag isÿ jq foa ms,sn| i;Hh oek.ekSfï whs;shla we;' cd;shla f,i wmg ta ms<sn| i;Hh oek .ekSfï whs;shla ;sfí' fï yd iïnkaOj wm w;ska isÿ ù we;s jerÈ ms,s.ekSug o tajdhska mdvï bf.k .ekSug o tcdmh iQodkñka isà' wkd.;h f.dvke.Su i|yd w;S;h mdvï fmd;la njg m;a lr .ekSug wm iQodkï h'

;SrKd;aul tfldf<dia jeks mefha§ mjd wm rcfhka b,a,d isákqfha" ;ukg tfrysj t,a, ù we;s nrm;, fpdaokd iïnkafOhka blauka wduka;%Khla isÿ lrk f,ih' ;ukag tfrysj fpdaokd yd wmjdohka t,a,fjoa§ ;djld,sl me,eia;r ouñka fyda tajd tl t,af,a neyer lrñka j.lsj hq;= mßK; rdcHhla lghq;= lrkafka ke;' tajdg weyqï lkaÈh hq;=h' wd;au mÍlaIdjg ;uka iQodkï nj rch msg;g fmkaúh hq;=h' cd;Hka;ßlj fukau foaYshj o ta iïnkaOj we;s u; ksjerÈ l< yelafla ta wdldrhgh' tneúka" ;jÿrg;a ke;s i;=rka yd l=uka;%Klrejka msgqmi yUd hEu fjkqjg" ta ms<sno l:d lrñka ld,h kdia;s lrkjd fjkqjg" tcdmh f,i" wm rchg fhdackd lrkqfha cd;Hka;r m%cdfõ wm ñ;=rka fï iïnkaOj mjik oEg ;u ijka m;a fhduq lrjk f,ih' ta foig lka yrjk f,ih'

b;sydifha ljr ljrodluj;a fkd;snqKq wkaofï oreKq cd;Hka;r n,mEula wdikakfha wm isà' fï jk úg oe,smsysfha fl<jr wm wi<g È.= ù isà' iq¿ foag mjd lsfmk" ;ukaf.a wNHka;rh ms,sn| lsisÿ ie,ls,a,la fkdolajñka" ieufoagu wkHkag weÕs,a, È.= lrñka fpdaokd lrk" <dul lKavdhulg fuu wNsfhda.h ndr § n,d isáh fkdyelsh' fmrg;a jvd j¾;udfkha Y%S ,xldjg mßK;" idOdrK i;Hjd§ foaYmd,k kdhl;ajhla wjYH ù ;sfí'

foaYmd,k{hka" iq¿ msßilf.a w;af;fkdau;sl yeisÍï iïnkaOfhka fï rfÜ ck;dj jkaÈ f.ùfï wjYH;djla fkdue;' fuys§ j.lsj hq;= úmlaIhla f,i hqoaOfha wjika iufha isÿ jQjd hehs fpdaokd t,a,jk isÿùï ms<sno foaYSh mÍlaIKhla meje;aùu i|yd wjYH iïmq¾K iydh ,nd §ug tcdmh iQodkïh'

tn÷ mÍlaIKhla 2009 ckjdß udfiha isg uehs udih f;la jk flá ld, mrdihlg iSud fkdlr ;j;a .eUqrg" fkdtffia kï miq mig f.khñka" t,a'à'à'B h isÿl< ;srYaÖk" ñf,aÉP l%shd ms,sn|j o fidhd ne,sh hq;= nj" tcdmfha úYajdihhs' tn÷ mßlaIKhl § fy<sjk f;dr;=re u; jerÈlrejka njg m;ajk iEu flkl=gu kS;sh ms<s.;a úêúOdk u; fpdaokd bÈßm;a l< hq;= nj" tcdmfha ia:djrhhs' úfYafIhkau tys§ wmrdO i|yd j. lsj hq;= t,a'à'à'Bfha fcHIaG idudðlhka y÷kd.;af;a kï Tjqka iïnkaOj wksjd¾fhhkau kS;sh ls%hd;aul l< hq;=h'

17 jk wdKavqlu jHjia:d ixfYdaOkh" h<s ia:dms; lrñka" kS;sfha md,kh yd YsIag m%cd;ka;Sh jákdlï ;yjqre lsÍug m%uqL;dj ,nd fok njg iy;slhla ,nd fokafka kï" hymd,kh l%shd;aul lsÍu i|yd wjYH wdh;k msysgqùug yd tu moaO;sfha iqug l%shdldÍ;ajh i|yd wjYH iydh rchg ,nd §ug tcdmh iQodkïh' cd;sfha w÷re;u mehl" ta ms,sn| ixfõ§ fkdù" foaYmd,k mlaI mdg wkqj fn§ fjkaj lghq;= lsßug" j.lsj hq;= foaYmd,k mlaIhla f,i tcdmh iQodkï fkdue;' tlai;a m%cd;ka;%Sh" yd iïmq¾K ksoyi iys; Y%S ,xldjla ms<sn| isyskhla tcdmhg ;sfí' wfma úYajdih tn÷ rgls' l< hq;= foa fkdlr isàu ;=<" ta uqrKavqNdjh ;=< cd;Hka;r m%cdj" wm wdorKSh ud;DN+ñh" Wkauka;l wf.!rjkSh rdcHhl uÜgulg f.k hk f;la" n,d isg bka ld,lkaks i;=gla ,eîfï is,a,r wruqKla tcdmhg fkdue;' ;siajirl ìysiqKq w¾nqohlska miq wksjd¾fhhkau" Bg jkaÈhla f.úh hq;=h' iduh f.dvkexùfï iajNdjh thhs' th wmg cd;Hka;r m%cdj mejiSug wjYH fkdue;' th" Y%S ,xldj ;uka úiskau jgyd .; hq;= ldrKhls'

;siajirla mqrd mej;s fï w¾nqofha lDDr;ajh yd úkdYh wjfndaO lr.;a cd;shla f,i tu mEreKq ;=jd, iqjm;a lsÍug lghq;= lsÍu W;=f¾ yd ol=fKa fjfik iEu mqrjeisfhl=f.au" j.lSula fukau wjYH;djla o fõ'

2014'02'13

The people of this country need not pay for the actions of a few politicians -Special Statement by UNP

(Lanka-e-News -13.Feb.2014, 5.30PM) Sri Lanka is at a precipice and the Rajapaksa administration bears full responsibility for our country’s current plight.

After years of insisting that the Sri Lankan government carryout a credible internal investigation into the alleged human rights violations, especially in the final phase of the war, the international community seems poised to demand an international investigation. This is a situation which could have been easily avoided had the ruling regime heeded the calls of the UNP and many others who have been insisting that the rulers respect the rights of its citizens, irrespective of race religion or place of origin and address the serious allegations levelled against them in a manner that is acceptable to the people of this country. Instead we have witnessed further deterioration in the rule of law, accountability and credibility of the Sri Lankan State.

President Rajapaksa himself pledged to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in May 2009 that he will under take an internal investigation to look into the alleged incidents in the last phase of the war. This pledge has been repeated for the consumption of the international community. However the international community is now realising a blatant truth that the people of this country knew for a long time; the word of the Rajapaksa Administration means next to nothing.

The present administration has done itself no favours by eroding the legitimacy of the judiciary, weakening of democratic institutions, repealing the 17th Amendment to the constitution and increasingly hounding the media and dissent. By the illegal impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, the ruling regime has amply demonstrated to the people of Sri Lanka and to the international community that it is impossible for us to claim that there could be a credible internal investigation into the alleged crimes.

The increasing acts of violence against religious and ethnic minorities which are clearly orchestrated by groups with the backing of the ruling regime further casts doubts on the genuine commitment to reconciliation. The continuing abductions, torture, intimidation of the media, militarisation of every aspect of social and economic spaces, blatant corruption, nepotism and the glaring impunity with which the ruling elite flout the norms and laws of human rights have all contributed to bring Sri Lanka to where we are sadly placed. Once a respected country among a community of civilised nations today our government is facing increasing isolation in the democratic world. It has isolated itself to such a degree that it is compelled to seek company among ‘like minded’ authoritarian regimes.

It has been the position of the United National Party for years even at the cost of populist sentiment and irrespective of what the regime projects, human rights is not an alien concept for the people of this country. It is in our collective interest that our government protects our inalienable rights. The right to education, right to dignity, right to justice and a fair trial are all human rights just as the right to life and the right against torture and arbitrary arrest.

The people of the South witnessed horrific scenes at Weliweriya, when the ruling regime unleashed the army on innocent people whose only crime was to demand safe drinking water. The cold blooded killings at Weliweriya was a wake-up call that demonstrated how excesses by a regime that goes repeatedly unchecked could reach alarming proportions that cut across ethnicities and religions. To this day, the Rajapaksa regime has failed to hold a single person accountable for the Weliweriya massacre.

Recently mass graves have been unearthed in Matale and in Mannar. So far 154 skeletons have been exhumed in Matale while the gravesite in Mannar has revealed remains of over 50 individuals. How is it an act of treason to demand answers about which of our citizens are buried in those gravesites? Is it an unpatriotic act to ask the Government who killed them? Is it a conspiracy to demand that those responsible for the mass killings are brought to justice? The time has come to change the discourse about human rights. This discourse changed instinctively in Weliweriya on August 2, 2013. But we do not need to see our countrymen being shot and killed before our eyes by forces entrusted to protect the citizenry again, in order to realise that human rights is about the rights of every citizen of Sri Lanka to live free and with dignity?

It is indeed ironic and tragically comical that recently a leading mouthpiece of the administration had asked for a further five years to fully implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). For a regime that had the eagerness to repeal the 17th amendment and introduce the draconian 18th amendment virtually over night, for a regime that impeached the Chief Justice through a process that lasted less than two weeks and for a regime that grants approval to any multi billion dollar deal over the counter it is nothing short of ridiculous to ask for five more years to implement recommendations that were made by a Sri Lankan commission tasked with looking into bringing about peace and reconciliation in our country. These absurdities once again demonstrate the insincerity of the ruling regime.

It is time to say we no longer believe the propaganda and narrow racist narratives of the government. Whether Tamils are buried in the Mannar mass grave or Sinhalese at the Matale site, these are all Sri Lanka’s people. Those skeletons were someone’s brother sister, son or daughter. Their families deserve to know the truth. As a nation we deserve to know the truth. The UNP stands ready to face any of its historic demons and learn from those mistakes, for we believe we will all have to confront our past in order to build our future.

Even at this very late hour the UNP calls on the ruling regime to address the serious allegations levelled against it. A mature state does not engage in blanket denial when allegations and aspersions are cast at it. It listens to those accusations, reflects introspectively, and attempts to set the record right as much for its own people, as for international consumption. The UNP calls on the Rajapaksa administration to stop seeing enemies and conspirators where there are none and learn, even at this late stage to listen to what our friends in the international community are telling us. This country stands, as never before, on a razor’s edge of devastating international action. It cannot afford to have this challenge led by a group of petulant schoolchildren who insist on pointing fingers of blame and everyone else without once looking inward. Sri Lanka now more than ever, needs mature, even-handed and truthful political leadership.

The people of this country need not pay for the actions of a few politicians.

As a responsible opposition, the UNP stands willing, to extend its fullest support to conduct a domestic investigation into the allegations about the final phase of the war. It is our belief that an investigation should span not only the months from January-May 2009, but go deeper and investigate the atrocities committed by the LTTE. If the findings of such an investigation reveal that guilt can be attributed, we call on the Government to prosecute any persons who may have been a member of the LTTE at a senior level and ensure they are held accountable for the crimes.

The UNP stands prepared to support the regime to restore the systems and institutions of democratic governance, if it will pledge to restore the 17th Amendment and prioritise a return to civilised values and the rule of law. This is not a moment for partisanship. It is a moment of national crisis. The UNP believes in a Sri Lanka that is unified, democratic and truly free. We have no interest in seeing our nation relegated to the lunatic fringe of the international community, disrespected and looked down upon because of our intractability and refusal to do what needs to be done. After 30 years of brutal conflict, reparation must be made. That is the nature of peace building. We did not need the international community to tell us that. It is something Sri Lanka should have realised for itself, as a nation that understands the brutality and brokenness of conflict and the need for all its citizens, in the North and the South of this island, to heal those wounds.

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