Colombo, Nov 19 (Representative) A grouping of Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates has urged the government to promote economic growth in Tamil areas in the island’s north and east and to take other steps including reopening the Palaly airport in Jaffna.The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) made the request when it handed over a letter to Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe outlining areas where work can be done to promote reconciliation between the Tamil and Sinhalese communities, The Daily FT newspaper reported on Friday. The CTC thanked the Minister for delisting some Tamil Diaspora organisations including the CTC and said they feel it was a first step towards achieving improved ethnic relations and economic outcomes in Sri Lanka. “We think that additional and meaningful actions are critical in continuing to build bridges with the Diaspora and help the island nation prosper,” the letter said.It said the government had not taken any meaningful actions which were long overdue, the daily reported.
The CTC called on the government to release all political prisoners, repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, release all the private lands occupied by the Sri Lankan military and cease all illegal land grabs in the Northern and Eastern provinces. Additionally, the CTC also requested that the government allow Tamils to mourn and remember the dead, free of intimidation by Sri Lankan state authorities and to support economic growth in the north and foreign investment by reopening the Palaly International Airport in Jaffna peninsula. Handing over the Jaffna Cultural Centre funded by the Indian government to the Jaffna municipality, fully implementing the 13th Amendment and immediately holding provincial council elections, stopping all business initiatives in the Northern and Eastern provinces by the Sri Lanka Military and opening of Kankesanthurai and Mannar ferry services to India were among the other requests.