File photograph: Abbas meets Rajapaksa in 2014
Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa released a statement in support of Palestine’s “legitimate right to statehood” and called for a ceasefire this morning, as Israel’s assault on Gaza continued.
The prime minister, who directed the slaughter of tens of thousands of Tamils 12 years ago, did not condemn the Israeli bombardment in his statement, instead speaking of “untold suffering for the people on both sides of the conflict”.
“The creation of the question of the Palestinian people was a direct consequence of colonialism and the fact that the people of this region had no control over their own destinies when the seeds were sown for the conflict that we experience today,” the statement continued.
“As a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause and the Founder President of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, I have always held the position that the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to statehood must be upheld. The preservation of the rights of the people is important for the assertion of their identity as a distinct people.”
It is my sincere belief that the #Israeli-#Palestinian region is Holy Land that is sacred to people of many faiths. As such, I earnestly urge both sides to show restraint and de-escalate hostilities and commence negotiations for a ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/7aI6HqRSAb
— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) May 17, 2021
However, Rajapaksa went on to state “it is imperative to recognize the legitimate and sensitive security concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.”
“I earnestly urge both sides to show restraint and de-escalate hostilities and commence negotiations for a ceasefire,” he concluded.
The release of the statement comes amidst increasing violence in Gaza, with hundreds killed so far.
The statement also comes as Tamils across the island and around the world, commemorate 12 years since the massacres that Rajapaksa oversaw as president in 2009. Hospitals were bombed, food and medicine embargoed and surrendering Tamils executed as the Sri Lankan military bombarded Mullvaikkal. At the time, Rajapaksa ignored all calls for a ceasefire and a negotiated end to hostilities.
Despites the crimes he oversaw, Rajapaksa has held close ties with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine in 2014 and was awarded the ‘Star of Palestine’, the highest honour award by the Palestinian state. In 2007 on Rajapaksa’s 62nd birthday, a road in Ramallah in his honour. The then Palestinian Ambassador to Sri Lanka sent Rajapaksa his birthday greetings, adding "under your able guidance Sri Lanka will see an era of peace and prosperity".
