Pakiasothy’s centre in an attempt to revamp the moribund NGO agenda

By Ranjith Soysa

“ The Boomerang pattern conceptualized by Margaret Keek and Kathryn Sikkink has become useful in understanding the dynamics of trans-national advocacy of networking and political entrepreneurship. It illustrates how interest groups can enter the “ globalized political space” , mobilize international support and then turn that pressure back on their own local governments in order to further their causes. In effect international organizations then become allies of one side of the conflict, not neutral participants….” (Dr Ashoka Bandarge in The Separatist Conflict in Sri Lanka)

(July 18, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) After being very badly exposed and miserably failing in their unholy venture of destabilizing Sri Lanka and promoting the LTTE ‘s agenda , Pakiyasothi Saravanamuttu is planning to have a discussion on “ Rights of the Minorities and their Protection “ in partnership with Minority Rights Group International.

The Centre of Pakiyasothi which never referred to the LTTE as a terrorist organization was oblivious to the atrocities perpetrated by the LTTE on Sri Lankans populace,In fact, it is a front for the separatist political groups. It’s Executive Director, Pakiyasothy was a frequent visitor to the Western capitals parading as a “highly respected commentator” of Sri Lankan affairs and quoted regularly by the world media and study centres. Sine the defeat of the LTTE and the failed attempts of some of the Western countries to save the LTTE’s leaders, any impartial observer will be able trace the contributions made on behalf of the LTTE by the likes of Pakiyasothy In fact, the anti- Sri Lanka, anti-Sinhala venom secreted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives played a major role in the foreign media in blackening the image of Sri Lanka.

When CPA and Pakiyasothy are getting ready to discuss the minority rights and the their protection, Sri Lanka should keep her ears and eyes open. Pakiyasothy once insisted that opposition to foreign intervention in the Sri Lankan conflict as “ near universal and in part hysterical” and made “ in the name of the sacred cow of sovereignty.” He called such concerns for sovereignty “jingoism” Therefore, the CPA’s integrity is in question as Sri Lanka has sacrificed many of her sons and daughters in upholding the sovereignty of the nation. Sri Lankans have resisted foreign intervention for hundreds of years. Therefore, it is advisable to follow up closely the new venture of the CPA which will aim to “manufacture” another virus
and surreptitiously circulate to the international Sri Lankan minders with inter-locking connections. Now that the Tamil Tigers are no more, the NGOs such as CPA will need new issues for their survival as well as to make things difficult for the emerging Sri Lanka


Their proposed venture on the minority rights etc will be warmly welcome by the foreign embassy personnel in Colombo who tried their best to derail Sri Lanka through organizations such as Berghoff Foundation, Norwegian NGOs etc. in the past. It will initiate another anti- Sri Lankan campaign projecting views held by a narrow and unrepresentative segment of Sri Lankan society into the international arena. It is ironical for a NGO in Sri Lanka to discuss an issue like the minority rights without the full representation and the blessings of the Government as it is a divisive subject.

The views expressed by the NGOs like CPA in regard to rights of the people of Sri Lanka had unfortunately had been restricted to the rights of Jaffna Tamils. The rights of all other groups including the Tamils in the East hardly received the attention of the NGOs as the agenda was cleverly pre-planned.

With the planned discussions, the CPA stands indicated as this is an attempt to revamp the divisive plans of the groups frustrated by the defeat of the LTTE. When such a destructive plan is co-ordinated by another INGO the situation is fraught with utmost danger. It has to be stated that a country like India will take all steps to prevent foreign funded NGOs and INGOs forays into her sovereignty, national security and political stability.

-Sri Lanka Guardian