S. Lanka religious leaders urge government to implement recommendations
(January 06, 2012) Religious leaders in Sri Lanka urged the government on Thursday
to implement the recommendations of a report on the civil war that finished in 2009.
Buddhist, Christian, Islamic and Hindu representatives met for a press conference
of the Congress of Religions and agreed that implementing the recommendations of the
report is essential for a lasting peace in the country. Buddhist monk, Venerable
Professor Bellanvila Wimalarathana Thero, said that according to the findings of the
report there is serious erosion of the rule of law, freedom of expression and media
freedom, and there is undue interference with the supposedly independent judiciary
and police. “The government should establish an independent judiciary and ensure a
society free from violence as recommended by the [report] commission,” Thero said.
“The government must urgently implement the recommendations in order prevent another
ethnic war. The findings of the commission meet the requirements of our people and
provide solutions to our problems and are not to please the UN, EU or any foreign
nation,” he said. Thero stressed the need to immediately resettle all Tamil, Sinhala
and Muslim communities who were internally displaced during the war and send them
back to their original lands. Sri Lanka’s military in May 2009 defeated Tamil Tiger
rebels who had fought for a separate state from the northern and eastern parts of
the country. Catholic priest Father Mervin Fernando said that the report highlighted
the need to come to a political solution to address the genuine grievances of the
people. Cabinet spokesman and media minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the government
will implement the report.