National Peace Council (NPC) in its media release 16 July titled ‘Discriminatory Practices are Detrimental to Reconciliation’ called on Sri Lanka government to ensure that there is no discriminatory targeting Tamils. “The re-commencement of the practices of registering Tamils with the police and of conducting search operations that target them have been widely reported in the Tamil media in particular and have created a renewed sense of insecurity and injustice amongst the larger Tamil population that is detrimental to national reconciliation,” NPC said.
Adding that the situation has deteriorated where normal life for Tamil people is concerned, NPC said that Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganesan has requested Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene to halt the police registration of Tamils in the Wellawatte Police division in Colombo as discriminatory and against the spirit of reconciliation.
Tamil residents in Wellawatte in Colombo division were instructed 08 July by the police to register with the local police station immediately. The announcement had been made through loudhailers fixed in three wheelers and some vehicles. Police sources said the procedure was intended to account for the large number of Tamils who had returned from abroad and staying in several hotels and lodges.
Meanwhile, NPC in its media release said, “Deputy Inspector General H.N.B. Herath is reported to have said they were instructed by higher authorities to register all people — including Tamils. All right thinking people will acknowledge that democracy is governance according to law and not according to the wishes of the rulers. The rulers are equally subject to the law and must abide by the Constitution.”
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow TNN on Facebook and Twitter )