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Two ministers to counter Ananthi’s ‘genocide’ charge
View(s):Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthi Shashitharan is perhaps one among few opposition politicians who have come under severe criticism from the Cabinet of ministers.
This came after her speech at a side event during last month’s UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva.
Speaking in English though not cohesive, Ms. Sasheetharan claimed there was “genocide” in Sri Lanka. The speech came days before the Council adopted the third US-sponsored resolution.
The remarks were to anger TNA’s arch-rival, Minister Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP). He sought to get the Government to come down hard on the extremist TNA member, the wife of Elilan, one time Tiger guerrilla political wing leader for Trincomalee. She alleges that her husband was abducted by the military and his whereabouts were not known thereafter. Military authorities have repeatedly denied the charge.
No sooner Mr. Devananda heard of Ms. Shashitharan’s remarks at the side event in Geneva, he sent a note to the Cabinet. He recommended that strong action be taken against her. Claiming that her remarks were malicious, Mr. Devananda charged that Ms. Shashitharan had been involved in the recruitment of child soldiers when the separatist war was under way. He also said she had gained entry to the event with the help of an INGO (International Non-Governmental Organisation) and had defamed the country in the eyes of the international community.
The ministers considered the complaint and handed down tasks to two ministers. External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris is tasked to project the correct position in the Northern Province abroad both by himself and with the help of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was called upon to carry out the same task locally through the print and electronic media.
Earlier moves by Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) detectives to question her upon return to Sri Lanka were dropped. “We don’t want to make her a heroine since her anti-Sri Lanka outbursts are not taken seriously,” said a senior police officer.