Cameron’s message driven by diaspora, says Lankan Envoy

Monday, 18 November 2013 01:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Dharisha Bastians Substantial and powerful Tamil diasporas in some countries control the negative narrative about Sri Lanka, resulting in unfair criticism, and Britain is one of them, Sri Lankan Envoy to the United Kingdom Dr. Chris Nonis said in Colombo yesterday. The statement comes one day after British Prime Minister David Cameron criticised the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and pledged to push for an international investigation into alleged abuses during the final phase of the war, if a domestic inquiry is not completed by that time. “Some political leaders are strongly driven by electoral compulsions and domestic considerations, and we realise that some of the comments that are made are made in that context,” Dr. Nonis said during a press conference held in the Briefing Room of the CHOGM Media Centre at BMICH yesterday.

“We understand that the diaspora is a very strong driver. We understand that some countries have to make this statement,” he said. Nonis said that the Tamil diaspora in some countries had turned terrorism into a business. “After the end of the conflict, they have turned their funds towards lobby groups, think-tanks and even parliamentarians and political leaders,” High Commissioner Nonis said. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner said reconciliation was not about punitive justice but restorative justice. “Restorative justice is part of the LLRC but that takes time,” he explained. In that time, Sri Lanka expected understanding from the international community, Nonis said. “We ask them to have that graciousness of heart, that generosity of spirit to understand that we have a bitter conflict for 30 years and that we have embarked on a comprehensive reconciliation process,” he appealed.