Ilankai Tamil Sangam
Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA
Pirapaharan's Statement
Tamil Eelam National Leader, Pirapaharan, releases Rs. 300 million for relief work and appeals for international assistance:
"My beloved and respected Tamil people,
"Our
homeland
has
faced
an
unprecedented
major
disaster
and
is
submerged
in
deep
sorrow
today.
A
few
days
ago,
totally
unexpected
by
anybody,
a
sudden
surge
of
a
ferocious
seismic
tidal
wave
hit
the
coastal
belts
of
the
South
East
Asian
region.
In
the
island
of
Sri
Lanka,
the
seabelt
coast
from
Jaffna
to
Galle
and
especially
our
homeland
territories
became
targets
of
Nature's
fury
resulting
in
massive
destruction
of
life
and
property.
Devastation in East (photo courtesy BBC)
"The
devastation
caused
by
this
tidal
surge
has
exacerbated
the
sufferings
of
our
people
already
affected
by
a
war
that
continued
for
over
twenty
years
and
has
torn
asunder
our
nation.
I
convey
my
feeling
of
attachment,
consolation
and
deepest
condolences
to
our
people
who
have
lost
their
beloved
and
dearest,
and
are
undergoing
unbearable
sorrow
and
pain.
"My condolences also go to our Muslim and Sinhala brethren in the southern coastal areas, who have lost their kith and kin, and are in deep sorrow.
"I also take this opportunity to express my condolences and share the grief of all the people in the South Asian nations, India and Tamil Nadu in particular, on whom this disaster has befallen.
"This
seismic
tidal
surge
has
not
stopped
with
taking
the
lives
of
several
thousands
of
our
people
and
injuring
thousands.
Wiping
out
many
sea
coast
hamlets,
this
has
also
destroyed
the
marine-based
livelihood
of
our
people.
Many
families
have
been
totally
annihilated
and
the
social
infrastructure
completely
torn
asunder.
Habitats
and
homesteads
of
innumerable
families
have
been
destroyed,
severely
impacting
their
future.
"Our Liberation organisation, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation, other Non-Governmental Organisations and several Civilian-Based Organisations (CBO) are jointly involved in relief and humanitarian assistance to our people who have met with this tragedy and are eking out a life of misery.
"I am obliged to convey my sense of gratitude and affection to our brethren living abroad who are voluntarily and magnanimously extending their helping hand to the relief activities, strengthening our resolve and giving hope to the distressed. I request of them earnestly to continue extend this assistance to salvage our people from the consequences of this major disaster. I solicit the support and magnanimous assistance of the international community and the UN agencies to help our people in distress."
###
Posted December 30, 2004