01.05.2009

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,

President of Sri Lanka,

Temple Trees,

Colombo-03

Your Excellency,

SAVE  THE  REMAINING  IDPs  IN  VANNI

With grave concern I wish to bring to your kind notice, certain facts that need your prompt action, so that Sri Lanka as a nation may not lose its credibility.  You are well aware that I gave you full cooperation in your efforts to eradicate terrorism at very grave risk to my life and never misled you in any matter.  I do not act on hearsay evidence nor believe all what others say.

I have very reliable information that the number still stranded in Vanni is over one hundred and fifty thousand but I am positively sure that the number exceeds one hundred thousand.  On an earlier occasion too, I hope you will remember, as regards the number I proved correct.  It is very un-fortunate that although aerial bombing had stopped shelling and artillery attacks had been taking place during the last three day also.  I plead with you to have them stopped forthwith and save the civilians.

I wish to point out that the military action that is going on, apart from causing several casualties among the IDPs in Vanni, the fear and tension this is causing to those IDPs who have already come into the Welfare Centres, will have serious repercussions on them since most of their relatives are still in Vanni.  Every life is valuable and it is your bounden duty to save the innocent people at any cost.  As I mentioned earlier in one of my letters to you, when the truth comes to light one day, the country as a whole will get condemned by the International Community.

There is also an acute Shortage of food and the people are virtually on the verge of starvation.  On the 2^nd April they had received 1100 metric tons of food items.  Since then on the 28^th and 29^th 30 metric tons was received each day.  Sugar received on these two consignments is only 1000 Kg each.  Hence please direct the authorities concerned to dispatch sufficient stock of food items and drugs immediately to Vanni.

Even at this late hour I have a suggestion to make which if acceptable, your Excellency may consider for implementation.  I suggest that an International Agency, acceptable to the Government, be selected to visit Vanni and persuade the LTTE to allow the innocent people to go out freely, with an offer of a general amnesty to those who surrender with arms.  A period of two weeks may be give to the agency to make the necessary arrangements.  If such an arrangement is not made to bring out the civilians safely, the whole thing will end up in a national disaster detrimental to the good name of the country. 

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

V. Anandasangaree,

President – TULF.