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“South Asia must be united against terror”

Nimal Siripala de Silva

CHENNAI: Sri Lanka wants South Asian countries to come together and chalk out a “strong plan” to stamp out terrorism, its Minister for Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva has said.

“Terrorism of whatever nature must be eradicated, whether it is the Al Qaeda or the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] or any other group. We should not single out one or two,” the Minister told The Hindu on Saturday.

The Minister, who attended an international health conference in the city, said the Mumbai terror attacks should serve as an eye-opener because what had happened in Mumbai could happen anywhere in the region. He conveyed his country’s condolences to the people of India.

The Minister referred to the address made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation in August on the need for a concerted action in the region to overcome terrorism.

Calling for treaties among the nations in this regard, he said a solid surveillance system should be in place, covering borders of the countries and the seas. Quoting Indian media reports, the Minister said the group that was responsible for the attack was said to be not from India. “A terrorist could live in one country and attack another country.”

Mr. De Silva urged developed countries to think of ways to control international smuggling of arms, especially the sale of explosives.

Explaining how his nation had been battered by terrorism, the Minister said that Sri Lanka witnessed similar attacks from the LTTE in the last two decades. It had experienced the brutality of terrorism more than any other nation in the region. “We have lived with terrorism for a long time.”

He recalled how the LTTE attacked the Central Bank of his nation about eight years ago using a lorry packed with explosives. Three hotels in the vicinity were also damaged in the impact. Over 100 people died and 2,000 were injured.

A solution to the ethnic problem should be found through negotiations, he said. He reiterated his government’s position that if the LTTE laid down arms, “even tomorrow we are prepared to hold negotiations.” In the past, when the government did not insist on this condition to conduct the peace process, the LTTE used the opportunity to strengthen itself. That was why the government was now making this a pre-condition to hold talks, the Minister said.

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