SLA commander speaks at music function

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA's Jaffna Town Commander Brig. Susantha Mendis called on the Tigers to join the path to peace last night at a music show at the Duraiappa stadium in the northern town. The musical show where 'Sithara', a band flown in from Colombo played to a crowd of 25000 until 1 a.m. in the small hours of the morning today was organised by the Jaffna SLA.

Sections of the crowd gyrated to the latest Tamil, Hindi and Sinhala tunes belted out by the band. The show , however, was ineptly called 'Theiveeha Rahangal'(divine tunes).

Although the town commander who addressed the crowd did not refer to the Liberation Tigers by name, he left no doubt among his audience as to whom he was calling upon to give up arms said TamilNet's correspondent.

The following are excerpts of Brig. Susantha Mendis's address.

"We are happy to see the thousands of people who are gathered here tonight. The happiness in your face is a message to us that you all do not like war or the culture of weapons. We also do not desire war and destruction. That is why I have come here before you in civilian clothing and without my weapon. There are some who cannot come for this show tonight. Convey to them your message of peace . You and we desire peace. Therefore I call on them to give up gun culture and join the democratic mainstream."