Genocide? Abuse? Assaults?

By Dr W Shermal Perera

(August 28, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The three of us* arrived in Colombo on 14th July 2009 (Tuesday) and were scheduled to travel and visit the orphans at the IDP (Internally Displaced Per-sons) centres in the Northern district of Vavuniya. Genocide, abuse and as-saults, assassinations, hunger, malnutrition, mutilated bodies, continuous cries from children, hunger, anger and rage were some of the thoughts that filled our minds before the trip. These disturbing thoughts and images were com-monly discussed and high-lighted in the international press and media, through the internet, at functions, and other avenues, all over the world. We were mentally prepared to encounter the after-effects of a post-conflict crisis. Some of us felt that we were “walking into the enemy’s hands”, and we would not be able to witness the true situation at the IDP centres as the Sri Lankan authorities would want to portray a “favourable” image to us. Needless to say, we were cautioned by our family and friends not to make this trip.

The impetus of our trip - In May 2009, Sri Lanka announced victory against the LTTE (Liberation of Tamil Tiger Elam). This was a 26 year (begun in 1983) war and during this time, Sri Lanka had channelled significant amount of funds in trying to defeat the LTTE.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Buddhist temple (SLBT) situated in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had an orphanage in Delgoda, Sri Lanka (30 miles from Colombo), that was nearing completion. This orphanage was initiated after the Tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka and is able to house a maximum of 200 orphans. The Temple’s Committee unanimously decided and volunteered that the orphanage be used to provide temporary shelter for any orphans from the IDP camps. Hence, our mission was to perform a viability study on the practicalities and the need to mobilise orphans from the IDP camps to the Delgoda Orphanage. We were also mindful that this could be seen in a negative light by the public, wherein a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Malaysia is housing Tamil orphans from the IDP camps.

We understood that the criteria of selection must be that the orphans/children were in deplorable/critical conditions and that our assistance would benefit them. We also understood that our duties and responsibilities were great, i.e. we had to provide necessary assistance from psychiatric, medical, lodging, food and most importantly, a successful relocation programme.

At this point, it is important to note that the three of us will report what we saw at the IDP camps irrespective of our race or religion. We will report the facts without any prejudice from either side, political influence, personal ill-feeling or religious sway. We will report on what we personally witnessed and evaluated through our professional opinion. We are fully aware that if we misrepresented any facts, our reputation and standing in society will be tarnished.

I am a committee member of the SLBT in Malaysia whilst Dr Veronica and Mr Chandran are independent and did not represent any society or establishment. Noteworthy - Our trip was funded by ourselves.

* A brief background of our expedition - Dr W Shermal Perera, a second-generation Sri Lankan Sinhalese living in Malaysia, and managing a biotechnology Company. Mr Gnanachandran S Ayadurai, a second-generation Sri Lankan Tamil (Ceylonese) born and raised in Malaysia, and retired Partner of one of the Big 4 accounting firms; and Dr Veronica Shanti Chelliah, half Ceylonese and half Sri Lankan Sinhalese, and owns her own private medical practice in Malaysia.

-Sri Lanka Guardian