Close down Sri Lankan mission in Chennai - Thirumaavalavan

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 March 2008, 11:49 GMT]
The leader of Viduthalai Chi'ruththaika'l Kadchi (VCK, Liberation Panthers Party), Thol. Thirumavalavan called upon the Indian Government to close down the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Tamil Nadu, while addressing a demonstration held in Chennai on Thursday by Tamil Protection Movement, attended by a large gathering.

He blamed the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai of indulging in "vituperative disinformation campaign" against the Tamil people struggling for their human rights. By publishing books and releasing statements against the Tamils, the Deputy High Commission was trying to malign the Tamil liberation struggle. Therefore, he demanded that the present consulate should be shut down and Sri Lanka should not be allowed to have an office in any corner of Tamil Nadu.

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai is the only other Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in India besides the High Commission in Delhi. It is the counterpart to the Indian Assistant High Commission in Kandy. Due to strategic interests in Tamil Nadu, the Sri Lankan government maintains this Deputy High Commission in Chennai, directly under the control of its foreign ministry. The Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai is of independent charge, considered on par with the rank of a High Commissioner and directly responsible to the government of Sri Lanka. He is not a subordinate to the mission in Delhi.

The Chennai mission got into controversies, ever since the present stage of Eezham War has started and Mr. P.M. Amza took over as Deputy High Commissioner in February 2005.

The mission is accused of espionage and funding to anti-Sri Lankan Tamil activities in Southern India.

A recent controversy broke out, is about a publication of the Deputy High Commission, which in the view of Tamil Nadu leaders, is a mischievous endeavour.

This publication of highly expensive print, a compilation of anti-Tamil media reports, appeared in the Indian press, was circulated among top media personalities and opinion makers in India. This is a typical Pakistani tactic of using India media reports for their propaganda abroad.

In a recent gathering, Dr. S. Ramadoss and Thol. Thirumavalavan, with fellow political leaders in Tamil Nadu, exposed the agenda behind this publication titled "LTTE in the eyes of Tamil Nadu."



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