Parliamentarian Ramanathan Archchuna has stated that his perspective changed following a conversation with Namal Rajapaksa, after initially entering Parliament to speak up for the Tamil community.
Recalling his early days in Parliament, Ramanathan said that during his first few speeches, he repeatedly raised issues concerning the Tamil people. He also acknowledged that, in one of his speeches, he had said that he would kill Namal Rajapaksa.
However, Ramanathan said that Rajapaksa subsequently spoke to him and challenged his way of thinking by questioning whether it would be fair to hold him responsible for his father’s actions while making similar accusations against Ramanathan because of his own father’s alleged association with the LTTE.
Ramanathan recalled Rajapaksa asking whether they should continue fighting and killing one another in this manner indefinitely.
He said the conversation had a profound impact on him, making him realise that such an approach was not right for the country, and that he subsequently changed his outlook.
He further stated that during the period when he supported the LTTE, he had also continuously supported the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
Ramanathan made these remarks while participating in a discussion on Neth FM.
