Progress made so far to meet aspirations of Tamils ‘remains inadequate’- India

7 October 2022 12:30 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While explaining India’s vote on the resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, Indra Mani Pandey, the country’s permanent representative in Geneva, said that the progress made so far by the Sri Lankan government to meet the aspirations of the Tamil minority “remains inadequate”.

“In finding a lasting and effective solution for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, India has always been guided by the two fundamental principles of support to the aspirations of the Tamils for equality, justice, dignity and peace and unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka,” Pandey said.

“While we have taken note of the commitments by the government of Sri Lanka on issues of implementation of the commitments in the spirit of the 13th Constitutional Amendment, meaningful devolution and the early conduct of provincial elections, we believe that the progress towards the same remains inadequate,” he said.

“Accordingly, we urge the government of Sri Lanka to work meaningfully towards early implementation of these commitments,” he added.

Pandey also noted that India has “substantively contributed” to the relief, rehabilitation, re-settlement and reconstruction process in Sri Lanka since 2009. Since January this year, India has “provided unprecedented assistance” to the people of Sri Lanka to face the challenges of the recent economic crisis, he said.

Achieving prosperity for all Sri Lankans and “realising the legitimate aspirations of Tamils of Sri Lanka for prosperity, dignity and peace are two sides of the same coin”, Pandey pointed out.

India on Thursday abstained on a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) promoting human rights in Sri Lanka but urged the government in Colombo to deliver on commitments towards the Tamil minority.

Comments - 21

Go home heritage Friday, 07 October 2022 12:53 PM

Sooner we realise India is an unfriendly country to us the better. India before Europeans came was the biggest overseas threat to our nation. Now no European power has base here, India are again the greatest threat. Persons from India good, but we shouldn't want their tourists for the sake of them being Indian as it's fawning to their lording over us.

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 07 October 2022 02:06 PM

Good. So that is why you get screwed by your close ever-loving friend China every so often.

Kumara Friday, 07 October 2022 01:00 PM

To India, Sri Lanka is not prepared to listen to your repeated requests. What is your next step in this regard, now that we note you abstained at the UNHRC?

Kamu Seeni Saturday, 08 October 2022 10:44 AM

India can do nothing. They are too greedy to make money here, it's all talk. India frequently repress their own citizens free expression. Kashmir is more recently having frequent internet/communications shutdown. They should look at the aspirations of their own states to cede/break away of failed democracy of India before doing the double take about after abstaining.

Fairness for our citizen everywhere Friday, 07 October 2022 01:00 PM

India should focus on the poorest persons, not just those in North and East. How come they forget about those with recent ancestry from India who work for lowest wages (in Tea estate). Why not India not want to help the upcountry Tamil persons, who Indians most closely related too. India wanting to help North and East Tamil persons seems superficial when they ignore persons Indians most closest related to. Those Tea Estate worker really have less land, and less oppertunity than persons in Jaffna. Every few upcountry Tamil persons are part of the great Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora even. The Tea Estate persons didn't start violence but they are ignored but mighty India. India of course ignore poorer Sinhala and non-Tamil persons as well. We should support our own innocent upcountry citizens in poverty!

sam Friday, 07 October 2022 01:12 PM

Can the population know what these aspirations are?

Sokrates Friday, 07 October 2022 01:19 PM

India is doing the right thing. However, it should have voted against Sri Lanka. If it were Russia instead of India, the war criminal Putin would long ago have conquered the Tamil areas in Sri Lanka, held a fake referendum there and anexed the areas into his empire.

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 07 October 2022 02:09 PM

Exactly... it would be the same if China was our neighbor. But Sinhalese are born ignorant, therefore they like to believe fellows like Weerawansa, Gammanpila and Mahinda. Now they are enjoying life.

Jaffna Logic Friday, 07 October 2022 01:19 PM

Indians have the audacity to “speak for the Tamils” after massacring thousands of Tamil men, women, and children in cold blood and getting away scot-free.

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 07 October 2022 02:12 PM

Ow yes, like the Sinhalese yakkos did in 1956, 1958, 1977, 1983 and then after that went on the loose with Muslims in Digana, Aluthgama. How about some Vanda-Kottu or sending your sister to Dr. Shafi for next episode of yakko entertainment.

Lets be Sri Lankans and fight our battles as one Friday, 07 October 2022 01:23 PM

Every time we talk in terms of race, this country will end up having racism. Tamils are not superior to any other race but definitely equal. Fight for human issues, don't label the challenges under race. The citizens of all races are very peacefully co existing. Only politically motivated entities and migrated ex Sri Lankans who are agitating on racial lines.

Kill the messenger Friday, 07 October 2022 01:30 PM

If the mainline Singala parties SLFP, UNP, Pogottuwa field candidates from the north and east territories selected from the right cast and families etc, dont be surprised if the TNA and other tamil based parties lose thier vote base. The Southern parties dont know how to give priority to cast, correct village when fielding candidates. Sending Colombo based candidates wont help them win elections. So this Indian bloke is fishing in troubled waters.

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 07 October 2022 02:16 PM

So then why cant southern Sinhalese Buddhist Clergy from Karawe, Salagama and Durawe cast become members of Asgiriya Nikaya? Aney yakko!! Good try anyway.

Lokka Friday, 07 October 2022 04:47 PM

India is very unfair in making totally untrue statements imputing that Tamils in Sri Lanka are treated as second class citizens. This is totally untrue. This is a ruse by the racist Tamil politicians to advance their case for a separate state. The constitution has provided all safeguards for the civil liberties of all citizens of the country. If civil liberties are curtailed the culprits are the high class Vellalas in Jaffna when they themselves treat the low class Tamils as second class citizens. A case in point is the low caste Tamils not being allowed to enter the inner chambers of the Hindu Kovils. In many other social spheres they are second class citizens. The Tamils and other communities have the freedom to do business, purchase property and do any economic activity anywhere in the Island , which is unofficially denied to the Sinhalese in Tamil or Muslim majority areas. I would request Indian leaders to tell the Tamil politicians here not to act on racial lines.

No to UNHRC Friday, 07 October 2022 06:51 PM

Now time plan ahead to proverbially slap India in the face by eventually holding a referendum to remove the 13A for good. India complain but really can't do anything. Too weak to invade us, and with no more loan from those stingy country it will come time to show them majority of our public don't care about India wants at all! Government can sham India and say want to get people mandate, when of course the result of the referendum whether to keep or remove 13A is forgone conclusion. Of course we'd better time it just after India along with our other greedy creditors agreed to what terms are good for us. Can't have stupid India hold up us getting on. Soon after we'll as a voting public divorce ourselves of Indian forced-in 13A for good, and forget it ever defiled us Constitutionally.

DeviKaliAmmA Friday, 07 October 2022 10:27 PM

Wake up and treat all equally; be it Sinhala or Tamil or Muslims. Why fringe on the past and create animosity? India is not your enemy but the rogue politicians who created this social heartburn! Be nation agnostic but people centric dude!!!

Hawkeye Saturday, 08 October 2022 06:58 AM

India has always sided with SL by sitting on the fence when it came to the past ethnic genocide of Tamils. This is because their hands too are soaked in the blood of those innocent Tamils butchered in May 2009. However India is the country from where the philosophy of Karma evolved. The politicians North of SL should know their time to pay will come in due course via Karma.

vince Saturday, 08 October 2022 02:08 PM

perhaps India should first do the right thing by their minorities instead of pontificating to other countries.

kathir Saturday, 08 October 2022 03:15 PM

Being an Indian but French citizen I would like to suggest that India should keep away from Sri Lanka'internal problembs . Enough is enough India is looking local markets for Adani groups India is nothing for Sri Lanka

Fact Sunday, 09 October 2022 09:08 AM

If you are a French citizen, not an indian or Sri Lankan, i think you should force your govt to uphold the religious rights of French Muslim women to wear Hizab. That's a relevant topic for you. Not india

Martin Milton Sunday, 09 October 2022 02:31 PM

Let all Sri Lankans beware. THIS is the REAL face of India... SEPARATISM and FEDERALISM.. All the more reason why ILLEGAL 13A MUST be abolished along with the unholy gamut of colossal money wasting provincial Councils. MM

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Progress made so far to meet aspirations of Tamils ‘remains inadequate’- India

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