Tamil ‘Diaspora’ serves self interest only - President

*Some can’t speak in Tamil

*Some don’t know where Vavuniya is

Certain elements, who cannot even speak in Tamil or do not know where Vavuniya is and the actual situation in Jaffna, operate as pro-LTTE or Tamil Diaspora for their own survival, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the Janapathi Janahamuwa (President meets the people) telecast on State and private TV channels Friday. The Sri Lankan Government never drove out or evicted Tamils from this country, he said.

Hence it is quite incomprehensible as to why the Tamil expatriates around the globe continue to work under the label of the Tamil Diaspora, President Rajapaksa added.

“These elements try to distort the image of Sri Lanka. The so-called Diaspora seek to tarnish my image, and bring me and those who led the humanitarian operation to defeat LTTE terror before international tribunals.”

“Various people in this country are also trying to destabilize the country,” the President said.

He said he had already extended an open invitation to all Tamil expatriates in the world to come to Sri Lanka and witness the actual situation here.

Another point highlighted at the Janapathi Janahamuwa was the development of Colombo city.

“Some are carrying false propaganda seeking to gain narrow advantage from the development of the Colombo city.”

The Government will construct 70,000 houses for the benefit of slum dwellers in the city, the President said.

Responding to a question from people in Vavuniya regarding the construction of houses for IDPs, President Rajapaksa stated that” work has already begun on housing projects with the assistance of the Security Forces”.

The Government’s aim is to build 20,000 permanent houses for the IDPs, he added.

People from Vavuniya, Pulatisigama, Udu Nuwara, Passara, Morawaka and Katana participated in the Janapathi Janahamuwa program.

Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Dinesh Gunawardena, Rishard Bathiudeen, Wimal Weerawansa, Champika Ranawaka, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara also participated.