UK’s Conservative Party manifesto supporting two-state solution in SL

PHU wants FM’s immediate response

By Lahiru Pothmulla   

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) yesterday insisted that Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena should make an immediate response over the UK’s Conservative Party manifesto which had supported a two-state solution in Sri Lanka.   

In its manifesto, the Conservative Party said, “We will continue to support international initiatives to achieve reconciliation, stability and justice across the world, and in current or former conflict zones such as Cyprus, Sri Lanka and the Middle East, where we maintain our support for a two-state solution. Once we leave the EU, we will champion these values even more strongly.”   
Speaking at a news briefing yesterday, PHU Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila commented that the Conservative Party was looking for a mandate to create two states in Sri Lanka.   
“The Conservative Party has no justifiable reason to appear for an Eelam. The United Kingdom has been formed by forcibly incorporating Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There were struggles for freedom in these former states and even armed struggles in Northern Ireland from time to time. But even still, no Sri Lankan political party had sought a mandate to break the UK into pieces,” MP Gammanpila said.   

He noted that if Sri Lanka kept mum over the matter, other British political parties which had not pledged to divide Sri Lanka, could promise to do so in order to muster the votes of the Tamil community in the UK.   

Meanwhile, the MP lashed out at the Sri Lankan High Commission and its officials in the UK for their inaction over the content of the Conservative Party manifesto which has threatened the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.   

“These officials are being maintained by the tax payers money. At least, they could have issued a media release challenging this proposal in the Conservative Party manifesto or inform our Foreign Affairs Minister. We request Minister Gunawardena to response immediately at a time when a powerful country is violating our sovereignty and also to take stern action against the High Commission officials for being lethargic,” the MP said.   
MP Gammanpila yesterday wrote to the Foreign Minister requesting his immediate response over the matter and action against the High Commission’s officials.