Support for LTTE fades in UK
London: The support for the LTTE is dying fast and a strong
British lobby is being created to extend the GSP Plus facility to Sri
Lanka.
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High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the
United Kingdom, Justice Nihal Jayasinghe who was the chief guest
at the Sri Lankan stand at the WTM with an official of the Sri
Lanka Tourism in UK. |
High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom,
Justice Nihal Jayasinghe said that the momentum the LTTE had during the
war is now fading. "During the height of the war one could see nearly
20, 000 LTTE supporters and sympathizers in protest for the movement,"
he said.
"However now the London Police estimates that this
number has come down to 5,000," he said.
He said that the protesters are now talking about
Internally Displaced People (IDP) and when this issue is settled they
would hardly have any material to muster support and hold protests.
He said that in a highly developed country like the
United States it has taken over four years to resettle people who were
affected by Hurricane Katrina. "People are still living there in
makeshift camps," he said.
In addition landmines have to be cleared which takes
time. "Before people return to their livelihoods, infrastructure for
them too has to be provided.
"A responsible government cannot just let out these
people and ask them to go on their own," he said.
The proper addresses of the people too should be
double checked before they are sent to their original homes.
"The government cares for these IDPs and that is why
the government is investing so much in the North East," he said.
He also said that Sri Lanka protested on the fake
Channel 4 exposure on Sri Lanka and they are still working on this
matter.
Commenting on tourism people have now woken to the
reality that Sri Lanka is a free country and people could travel
anywhere including the North and the East.
"The softening of the travel advisories too encourages
more British tourists to come to Sri Lanka," he said.
"Using trade as a strategic tool makes the global
trading system hostage to endless political posturing and negotiating
games. Governments should grant trade preferences on simple, fair
criteria, largely based on the poverty and vulnerability of trading
partners," editorial of the Financial Times said.
"Trade deals should be a means for poor countries to
haul themselves out of poverty, not a tool of foreign policy
manipulation by their richer counterparts. Sri Lanka's exporters have
used their access to the European market well. They should keep it," the
Financial Times added.
In 2008, the European Union was Sri Lanka's largest
export market, accounting for 36 percent of its $8.1 billion in total
exports, followed by the United States with 24 percent.
Courtesy - Sunday observer
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