Former Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam hit out at Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera this morning on certain statements he had made concerning her, describing her as someone who came forward on behalf of the LTTE. She also said that Samaraweera misused the fact that she is a Tamil to automatically brand her.

Kunanayakam held a special press conference in order to respond to the accusations allegedly made against her by Minister Samaraweera during a TV program on March 17. She stated that she is considering the possibility of taking legal action against Samaraweera.

He had said that its necessary to ‘find out’ about her since she continuously highlights the controversy surrounding the audit report on the renovations of the official residence of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Geneva.

Kunanayakam stated that he also accused her of coming forward on behalf of the LTTE at the UN and in the Human Rights Council in 1989-90.

Rejecting Samaraweera’s allegations, Kunanayakam stated that her reason for requesting an audit into the functioning of the Permanent Mission in Geneva was not a personal dislike for Ambassador Kshenuka Seneviratne. She had never met her before and had no personal or professional contact with her, Kunanayakam elaborated.

She categorically stated that she has never ever spoken on behalf of the LTTE. She added that she had denounced the violation of human rights by the State as well as by the LTTE. “It is for this reason that I was branded a ‘traitor to the Tamil cause’ by the LTTE beginning as far back as 1987” she said. Kunanayakam added that she has been subjected to written and physical threats by representatives and sympathizers of the LTTE.

She rejected the allegation made by Minister Samaraweera that she was a ‘member’ of the ‘pro-LTTE’ World Council of Churches.

Kunanayakam stressed that the Minister has misused the fact that she is Tamil to automatically brand her as being an advocate for the LTTE while overlooking her consistent and relentless fight against the LTTE and the criticisms she leveled at the terrorist group throughout her private and professional life.

She added that Sri Lanka would lose its credibility internationally when its Foreign Minister makes false statements and is ‘playing on racist and chauvinist anti-Tamil sentiments’.

“In my mind, such a person is unsuitable to represent us internationally,” she said.

Following is her full statement:

Statement courtesy of Colombo Telegraph