President apologises to the Tamil Community
[July 24, 2004 - 6.30 GMT]

President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday made an emotional and unqualified apology to the Tamil people of Sri Lanka on behalf of the State of Sri Lanka and the Government on the 21st Anniversary of ‘Black July’. At a simple ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat attended by religious leaders, the PM and senior members of the Cabinet, 30 Tamil people were awarded a symbolic compensation by the President herself.

The Presidential Truth Commission she appointed in 2001 had recommended that 937 cases be compensated for their sufferings at the hands of Sinhala mobs during the pogrom against their Community in July 1983. The Commission in its report said, ‘The victims, their dependants or heirs should be compensated as a matter of right and not as a matter of charity.’

All recipients who are resident in Sri Lanka will receive their compensation by the end of August 2004. The Ministry of Rehabilitation is in the process of contacting the persons now domiciled overseas.
 

Full text of the President's address

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Last Updated Date: July 24, 2004  - 6.30 GMT.