Nimal hits out at France following deadly attacks

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) member and Government Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva today hit out at France following a deadly terrorist attack which claimed the lives of some 153 people.

Speaking at a public event in Ella, the Minister said that France, Britain, the US and Sweden put pressure on Sri Lanka when the former Sri Lankan Government was engaged in a war against the LTTE.

?They came to teach us about good governance and democracy. They claimed that since there is no reconciliation in Sri Lanka and since we are not addressing the issues of minorities there is terrorism in Sri Lanka. Now I ask if the attacks took place in France killing over 150 people since there was no reconciliation? Terrorism is not like that. It goes way beyond that,? he said.

He said that the very countries who attempted to give advice to Sri Lanka are now compelled to have a rethink about what they said.

During the final stages of the war several western countries accused Sri Lanka of committing human rights abuses and urged the Government to suspend the operations launched against the LTTE.

Nimal Siripala de Silva said that terrorism is spreading around the world but Sri Lanka was able to defeat terrorism.

?Countries like France, the US and UK could not defeat terrorism. These countries must place flowers and worship Sri Lanka. They must learn lessons from us,? he said.

He said that even the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has now got an opportunity to learn about terrorism once again and take a different stand on the issue.

The Minister said that the time has come for the UNHRC to understand that the Sri Lankan military took efforts to defeat a brutal terrorist outfit.

He also accused Europe of arming terrorist groups in the Middle East to overthrow legitimate Governments.

Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the conflict in the Middle East has resulted in a mass exodus of refugees who are flowing into Europe becoming a headache to Europe. (Colombo Gazette)