Victims and perpetrators of violence in same alliance

Chaminda Perera

Those who were subjected to violence during the 1987 - 1988 period are now in alliance with the party that created it, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa. There were very few persons who raised a voice against the State horror during this period.

The so called Human Rights watchdogs showed reluctance to speak of human rights violations in the South at that time . They only spoke about the Human Rights violations in the North, the President stressed.

The President was addressing the launching of the auto biography of Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka at Temple Trees yesterday.

He said Minister Ranawaka is among the very few persons who fought for the rights and lives of those who were involved in the Student Movement during the 1987 - 1988 period.

JHU Leader Ven Ellawala Medhananda Thera, Ven Pitaduwe Siri Dhamma Thera, Ven Kollonnawe Sumangala Thera were among the members of the Maha Sangha who participated in this event.

Ministers Dullas Allahapperuma, M.H. Mohammed, G. L. Peiris, Douglas Devananda, Milinda Moragoda and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present. Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka presented the first copy to JHU Leader Ven . Ellawala Medhananda Thera and President Mahinda Rajapaksa on this occasion.

He said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka has vast experience in the Student movement and politics. On a very personal note the President remembered how Minister Ranawaka as a student came to his house to discuss the funeral of medical student Tirimavithana who was killed by the UNP Government.

"The UNP Government brutally killed medical student Tirimavitana by driving nails in to his head" , the President said.

The hilarious thing is that the people who were subjected to violence during the 1987 - 1989 period, have now forgotten those who rescued them at that crucial period and are now in connivance with the party that created violence.

The President said he met Minister Ranawaka as a student who protested against the UNP Government's decision to set up a private medical faculty at Ragama in the mid 80s.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he worked hand in hand with late Ministers Richard Pathirana and Amarasiri Dodangoda and himself to thwart this move by the then Government. .

He said Minister Ranawaka played an active role in the Pada Yathra campaign to Kataragama.

"He formed the Janatha Mithuro organisation and dedicated to the People's Alliance victory at the Southern Provincial Council election.

"He worked very closely with Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and took all efforts to form a alliance comprising Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, Kumar Ponnampalam and A.H.M. Ashraff.

The President said the late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike placed enormous faith in the capabilities of Minister Ranawaka and entrusted the formation of policies of this alliance.

His motivation and persarvrance to achieve what the people aspired was evident when the JHU launched a walk to open the Mavil Aru sluice gates which was closed by the terrorists when the Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi was the acting Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.