Budget, mergers and genocide

"Open A9 Highway", "Stop State Terrorism", "Restore North East Merger", "Stop Genocide" were some of the messages held up by Tamil Members of Parliament during last week's budget presentation.

Their actions, calm and orderly, did not frazzle President Mahinda Rajapaksa as he entered Parliament and read out his speech. The MP's, in a very orderly manner, sat in a circle in front of the President, holding up their signs, some of which also read, "Don't Starve the Tamil People", "International Community, Why Are You Silent?", "Do Not Cheat Tamils by Deceitful Demerger" and "Yesterday Joseph, Today Ravi, Tomorrow Who?"

The President, in his opening remarks to Parliament, remained firm in his condemnation of the LTTE. "In spite of our sincere commitment to pursue a negotiated political settlement, the LTTE resorted to increased violence a few days after I was elected and continued to engage in provocative actions including the killing of over 70 civilians in Kabitigollawe, many suicide attacks, forcible closure of the Mavill Aru anicut and attacks on security forces," the President said, adding that the government remains steadfast to its commitment to peace. "We have successfully persuaded all democratic political parties to work together towards addressing genuine grievances of the Tamil people of our country. The political consensus reached with the opposition on common concerns pertaining to our country has given new hopes to our people. It is only the LTTE which has still not entered this process that respects human rights and democracy."

The President urged the LTTE to give up violence altogether, surrender arms, and restore the mutual trust that our communities enjoyed and work towards promoting peace, democracy and development in the interest of building a new Sri Lanka. "Our government values the efforts of the international community to endeavouring to pursue the LTTE in this direction and we are ready to reciprocate and continue with a dialogue to solve national problems."