Pro-LTTE network funding western politicians-MR

By Sunil

31 August 2013 03:10 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accused pro-LTTE networks of using money to bribe politicians in key Western nations, in order to get them to agitate against the Sri Lankan government on human rights issues.

He also said that international networks sympathetic to the terrorist Tamil Tigers, decisively defeated in Sri Lanka's civil war in 2009, play a big role in the people-smuggling trade to Australia.

"The LTTE (Tamil Tigers) sympathiser networks have been in this business for a long time," Mr Rajapaksa said in an exclusive interview with The Australian in his Colombo office.

"It was their big money-raiser. They are still doing it today."

Mr Rajapaksa said his government was co-operating closely with Canberra to suppress the people-smuggling trade.

"We are very happy with Australia's policies," he said.

"The myth is that when you get to Australia the government will look after you, the government will give you a dole, the government will give you free medical care," he said. "We don't want this trade to happen."

Mr Rajapaksa said the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009 had allowed Sri Lanka to rapidly accelerate economic and social development to the benefit of all. He also thought the defeat of the Tigers was a security benefit to many nations, including Australia, in efforts to prevent terrorist attacks.

He described the leader of the Tigers, Prabrakaran, who died in the final conflict of 2009, as "a psychopath who took a delight in killing".

Mr Rajapaksa denied that the Sri Lankan army ever deliberately killed civilians, and cited the huge numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils who fled LTTE areas to get to the protection of the government.

Comments - 8

Suq Madique Saturday, 31 August 2013 09:53 AM

Good that he came right out in the open and said this instead of beating around the bush. Anyway nothing we say or do will be good enough for the LTTE lovers so why bother?

Labby Saturday, 31 August 2013 10:44 AM

Why doesn't he name the 'politicians in the key Western nations' if he is so sure of what he's saying. If not, he would do well to hold his breath instead of making a fool of himself by uttering cry-baby stories.

ravi Saturday, 31 August 2013 10:56 AM

still talking about LTTE why somthing wrong some ware.

Percy Jilmart Saturday, 31 August 2013 01:12 PM

So when MR bribes opposition politicians to crossover or attack Ranil from within the UNP its ok, but when the Tamil diaspora bribes politicians thats wrong??? :-)

Andrew Pitugala Saturday, 31 August 2013 01:42 PM

He should produce the proof at the UN, like what Putin has requested Obama to do about the chemical weapons in Syria.

Ranjith Silva Sunday, 01 September 2013 03:38 AM

Not onlt Foreign Officials, They bribe UN Agents and Officials also.

Sammy Sunday, 01 September 2013 06:17 AM

First look within and sort out the injustices happening in the country with the backing of your politicians. Your words will lack integrity, otherwise.

Suq Madique Sunday, 01 September 2013 06:37 AM

Proof?? You think the diaspora are dumb enough to leave a trail or those accepting the bribes willing to confess? Its an open-secret known to all accept those that refuse to believe.

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Pro-LTTE network funding western politicians-MR

Comments - 8

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