The Government will establish a Reconciliation Commission to build mutual trust among communities, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said in Parliament yesterday (04 May).

The Prime Minister moving the motion to extend the Emergency Regulations by another one month said the objective of the Commission was to build trust if there were any breach of trust among the communities due to the conflict that prevailed in the country. Proposals can be made to this Commission.

The Prime Minister also said this Commission is expected to prevent the communities falling into such an unfortunate situation again.
Benefits will be provided to the people who incurred losses during the conflict period. The Premier referring to the security situation stated that LTTE terrorism is active in the international arena under three main organizations. Their objective is to establish an Eelam in Sri Lanka.

Although the Government was able to eliminate terrorism from the country’s soil its real benefits could be realized only if lasting peace could be achieved.

The Government is rehabilitating more than 10,000 ex-LTTErs. Over 2,400 of them has returned to society. Around 1,350 ex-LTTErs are categorized as criminals who will be dealt with according to the law.
The Terrorist Investigation Unit and the Criminal Investigation Department are conducting further investigations.

The Prime Minister referred to the terrorists at large still in Sri Lanka and overseas in addition to the haul of weapons concealed by the LTTE.

Premier Jayaratne further stated that the LTTE fund-raising has increased overseas. It may be for accumulating military equipment, he said. Meanwhile the so-called Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam has organised to hold its first general assembly in Switzerland from May 17 to 19.

The Prime Minister further stated that under these circumstances the Government could not expect that everything was over. Based on these facts he requested the support of the members to extend the Emergency Regulations by another one month.
He said the Government took measures to pass the benefits of the elimination of terrorism to the people.