ranil wickramasinghe’s interview to thanthi tv

7/21/2019 Ranil Wickramasinghes Interview to Thanthi TV

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Ranil Wickramasinghes interview to ThanthiTVSri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. Photo: M. Vedhan

Object1

March 7, 2015

Sri Lanka's political parties are united on the need for restoration of democracy in SriLanka, removing the executive presidency and national reconciliation, Sri Lankan PrimeMinister Ranil Wickramasinghe.

THANTHI TV:Thank you very much Mr. Prime Minister for agreeing to talk to us. Let me start asking

about the working of the New National ovt. There is an !L"P Presi#ent$ %NP Prime Minister. Ministers

from &arties that have been o&&osing each other in elections consecutively. 'ow #oes this actually work(
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/ranil-wickramasinghes-interview-to-thanthi-tv/article6966818.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/ranil-wickramasinghes-interview-to-thanthi-tv/article6966818.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/ranil-wickramasinghes-interview-to-thanthi-tv/article6966818.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/ranil-wickramasinghes-interview-to-thanthi-tv/article6966818.ece


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Ranil Wickramasinghe) We were all unite# on few issues... Restoration of #emocracy in !ri Lanka$ en#

of the Ra*a&aksa regime$ the nee# to remove the e+ecutive &resi#ency , finally nee# to have a national

reconciliation. !o we got together. The fact is that Ra*a&aksa was crow#ing the #emocratic s&ace in !ri

Lanka. -ne of the the smaller &arties that has always o&&ose# the %NP consistently sai#$ Look$ fish nee#

water$ we nee# s&ace... 'e is not giving us the s&ace...lets all get together$ create a #emocratic system$

strengthen it , then we can all go back to the &arty &olitics that we knew/. 0t is like Political &arties getting

together in a National crisis$ it1s generally a war$ an invasion which brings them together... 2ut here it was a

ma*or Political crisis which #eci#e#... Will this country be a Multi &arty #emocracy or will it be the

Ra*a&aksa regime... 0t affecte# the !L"P itself...2ecause the !L"P was being re&lace#$ the ca#res$ the

Members were being re&lace# by the henchmen of Ra*a&aksa regime. This is why the eneral !ecretary of

the !L"P became the 3ommon can#i#ate$ to#ay$ he is the Presi#ent of the 3ountry.

THANTHI TV:2ut can this set u& go on after the Parliamentary elections...3an this go beyon# the

ensuing Parliamentary elections(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:4es$ we have #eci#e# that we will work together at least for two years , we

coul# assess the situation$ can we stay on or shoul# we se&arate. 0 like all the &arties to get together. 5s 0

sai# in !inhalese$ 0 want to make the whole Parliament a overnment. -ne rou& will be The Ministers ,

6e&uty Ministers$ the rest of them will become over sight 3ommittee. Like the 7uro&ean Parliament or the

5merican congress$ e+ercising &owers of oversight over the overnment$ therefore the chairman of the-versight committee will also be a Powerful Political figure

THANTHI TV:2ut is it$ &ractically feasible to go on for that long(

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes. We can go for 8 years...We can manage for 8 years

THANTHI TV:-n Presi#ent !irisena1s visit to 0n#ia... 'e is back after after his first !tate visit to 0n#ia...

5re you ha&&y about the outcome of his visit(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:yes... 0m 9uite ha&&y. "irst being Presi#ent !irisena1s visit to 6elhi$ Ne+t

month will be Prime Minister Mo#i1s visit to !ri Lanka... This shows we are re:establishing links$ re&airing

the #amage$ getting ahea#.

THANTHI TV:Thats true... The engagements are ha&&ening more often than before. My 9uestion is onPrime Minister Mo#i1s visit. This is very significant because this is a bilateral visit by an 0n#ian Prime

Minister that ha&&ens after 8; long years. 0f Mo#i wishes to visit the North of !ri Lanka$ the Tamil

Province$ Woul# you facilitate , encourage such a visit(

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 'e is welcome to visit to an#y where substantial number of 0n#ian origin

Tamils live(

Ranil Wickramasinghe: >an#y is &ossible on the &laces that he may like to visit...Then he coul# visit the

tem&le of the tooth , &ay homage to the tooth relic. 2ut his meeting with the Tamil s&eaking &eo&le of !ri

Lanka will mainly be in , aroun#


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north... 4ou have no &roblem about our Prime Minister visiting north(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:No$ -nce we have a visit by a "oreign hea# of ovt.$ in a##ition to 3olombo$ he

must be allowe# to choose where he likes to visit

THANTHI TV:When are you visiting 0n#ia$ Mr. Prime Minister(

Ranil Wickramasinghe) Well$ 0 have been visiting 0n#ia on , off... 2ut 0 #ont think 0 will come to 0n#ia

till after the Parliamentary elections are over.THANTHI TV:Where #oes 3hina factor to#ay stan# in the 0n#o: !ri Lankan Relations( The Previous

regime was &erceive# largely &ro:china

Ranil Wickramasinghe:We kee& the 0n#o: !ri Lanka relations se&arate from !ino: !ri Lanka

relations... 2oth are im&ortant for us. With 0n#ia there is historic link. %n#er the 0n#o: Lanka agreement$

both countries have agree# that they will not take any measures that will harm the security of the other

country. !o in con#ucting our relations with 3hina or with other country$ we kee& this in min#. With this

way$ we are able to han#le the 0n#o:!ri Lanka relationshi& se&arately from the !ino: Lanka relations. What

we #i# not like was the attem&t at the time of Ra*a&aksa regime to &lay 0n#ia off against 3hina. Play 3hina

car# with 0n#ia$ 0n#ia car# with 3hina. That is not a wise &olicy. 0n#ia also hel&e# us. Without the hel& of

0n#ia$ Presi#ent Ra*a&aksa coul# have not wi&e# out the LTT7 . 'e got that hel& , he agree# to give

concessions even beyon# the @Ath amen#ment...2ut he #i# not #o so...

THANTHI TV:0n#ia hel&e# !ri Lanka in the war(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:4es... certainly

THANTHI TV:0n#ia has been categorically #enying that.

Ranil Wickramasinghe) 5mnesia$ you know is very common among &oliticians.

THANTHI TV:There was a &erce&tion that the &revious regime was largely in tilt towar#s 3hina. 0s the

era of Pro: 3hina tilt over to#ay(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:5s 0 tol# you$ we have no Pro china tilt= we have No Pro 0n#ia tilt.

THANTHI TV:0m asking about the Previous ovt. There was a &erce&tion that the &revious regime ha# a&ro:china tilt.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 2ecause they ha# a straine# relations with the west. They relie# on china for all

the economic assistance .2ut in our case$ while we welcome 3hinese investment , assistance$ we will also

be getting investment assistance from other countries. There wont be a tilt as far as %NP is concerne#$

Presi#ent !irisena is concerne# , other &arties in the National ovt. are concerne#... 5s a result of how

they con#ucte# their foreign &olicy$ there is a general feeling that Ra*a&aksa regime ha# tilte# towar#s

3hina.

THANTHI TV:4our Position on the Port city &ro*ect has now triggere# some #oubts.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: No #oubt. 01m the first &erson to raise the Port city in the Parliament... 0 aske#

for the re&orts. Now we have a&&ointe# a committee to go into the &ort city , to make a re&ort. 6e&en#ingon the outcome of the re&ort$ we will #eci#e what our measures are going to be. 2ut once we get the re&ort$

we will also give a co&y of it to the 3hinese ovt. , then commence #iscussion

THANTHI TV:4ou ha# s&oken about the scra&&ing of the &ro*ect. $ but now....

Ranil Wickramasinghe:0 still think if the re&ort is a#verse$ then the &ro*ect shoul# be scra&&e#.

THANTHI TV:0f the re&ort is a#verse$ the &ort city &ro*ect shoul# be scra&&e#(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:if the re&ort is a#verse$ we have to scra& it. 2ut then$ we want to hear all


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&arties. My contention on the re&ort has not been table#... 'ear all the &arties , take a #ecision.

THANTHI TV:While bilateral consultations with regar#s to voluntary re&atriation of refugees from 0n#ia

to !ri Lanka have begun$ The Tamil Na#u ovt. has raise# certain #oubts. 0t believes the situation ,

atmos&here is still not congenial , your govt. has not taken constructive ste&s. 6o you say all is well for the

refugees to return to !ri Lanka(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:We have an environment for the refugees to return to !ri Lanka. 0f they have

#oubts , they want a longer time$ *ust give them some more time. 5s the situation kee& getting back to

normal , im&roving$ &eo&le in Tamil Na#u will say$ why #ont they go back to !ri Lanka. We #ont want to

force the issue$ as the events #evelo&$ they will have to return to !ri Lanka.

THANTHI TV: These criticisms come at the back groun# that the resettlement of the internally #is&lace#

Tamils hasnt ha&&ene# in entirety

Ranil Wickramasinghe:-f the @@$BBB acres$ now only about CBBB acres are in army1s control. We have

i#entifie# some other &laces to be returne#. !ome of the refugees may be from these areas$ or they may be

from areas where life is back to normal. 0n any case$ if they have fear$ they shoul# be given some more time

to return.

THANTHI TV:Tamil Na#u has &laye# a very significant or a &owerful &art in the 0n#o: !ri Lankan

relations... The com&laint is that overnments in 3olombo , also in 6elhi have not taken this s&ecial factor

into consi#eration which in turn has only com&licate# relations between the 8 countries. Now that there is a

regime change$ woul# you take Tamil Na#u1s views on boar#$ woul# you like to engage with Tamil Na#u

while #ealing with 0n#ia(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:When 0 was Prime Minister DearlierE$ 0 always engage# with Tamil Na#u$ ke&t

them informe#. -f course we have to #eal with the ovt. of 0n#ia. We know 3hennai$ we go there regularly$

we have frien#s there. !ome go for sho&&ing$ some go for religious &ur&oses . Tamil Na#u is not an

unknown &lace.

THANTHI TV:2ut woul# you like to engage with Tamil Na#u(

Ranil Wickramasinghe) -n bilateral relations$ we #eal with the ovt. of 0n#ia. When we go to Tamil

Na#u$ we kee& them informe#. We like that to 3ontinue.

THANTHI TV:4our Manifesto says$ your &olicy will take #iversity of 0n#ia into concern...6oes that mean

Tamil Na#u(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:4es...certainly... !outhern &art of the sub:continent is closer to each other.

THANTHI TV:When the Tamil Na#u issue was raise#$ the attitu#e of the &revious ovt. was that we #eal

with the ovt. in 6elhi$ not 3hennai. 3hennai is not our concern... Will there now be change in attitu#e(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:We have always sai#$ ovt. to ovt. in 6elhi... We have always wante# oo#

relations with !tates in !outhern 0n#ia$ 3hennaiD TNE $ >erala: Large number of !inhalese have su&&ose#

connections with >erala $ >arnataka$ , of course 5n#hra which is now in 8 &laces .. Telengana , 5n#hra...

5ll that has been tra#itional &arts of our relations. 6o you know that Narasimha Varman$ The king ofPallavas$ he was able to #efeat the 3halukyan king because his comman# was a Prince from !ri Lanka calle#

Manavamma. Then >ing gave his army to Manavamma to return to !ri Lanka , re:establish himself on the

throne of 5nura#ha&ura. Pallava , the 5nura#ha&ura kings ha# very very close relations$ Pan#ians too

ha#... The final line u& was !ri Lanka$ Pallava$ Pan#iyas , !ri Vi*aya against 3holas... -f course 3hola

#efeate# all of us. >erala , !ri Lanka are the only two areas in the 0n#ian subcontinent that use coconut oil

for cooking.

THANTHI TV:3an 0 un#erstan# that you woul# &rioriti?e strengthening relations with !outh 0n#ia(

Ranil Wickramasinghe) We will...We will always.


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THANTHI TV:4ou accuse Ra*a&aksa of &aying money to the LTT7(

Ranil Wickramasinghe) That is a fact even Ra*a&aksa has not #enie#... Prabhakaran took money...

THANTHI TV:'a# you become the Presi#ent$ things woul# have been otherwise(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:We woul# have come towar#s a resolution... 2ecause many in the LTT7 were

willing to #o a #eal. Prabhakaran wasnt Drea#yE. "inally he fell out with 2alasingham...Why was

2alasingham e+clu#e#( 2alasingham knew the reality .The reality was the 0nternational 3ommunitywante# a #eal. Prabhakaran thought 0 can1t finish him off &hysically$ 0 will finish off &olitically. 'e coul#

finish off Prema#asa &hysically= 'e faile# to finish off Presi#ent 3han#rika >umaratunga who was for

&eace$ who still stan#s for &eace. 'e #int want a &eace settlement because after C :I years$ his lea#ershi&

coul# have been challenge#... We were all #iscussing one of the biggest issues that we have in a &eace

settlement was the threat to Prabhakaran from the &eo&le of


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&roblems in the !outh in the @H;H , HB$ they aske# for 0nternational en9uiry... 0 sai# No= the &erson who

aske# for 0nternational en9uiry was a &erson by the name of Mahin#a Ra*a&aksa.

THANTHI TV:'e was wrong(

Ranil Wickramasinghe) 0 sai# No 0nternational 7n9uiry. 0f the %N 'uman rights commission wants an

in9uiry$ 01m willing to talk to them. 2ut 0 invite# 'uman rights watch , others to come to !ri Lanka... D5fter

the u&risings in @H;H,HBEThey all came to !ri Lanka. The 3ongressional staff came to !ri Lanka... We have

nothing to hi#e. We know terrible inci#ents have taken &lace...More than @BB Thousan# &eo&le have been

kille#. There were u&risings in the North , in the !outh... 0 #ont think any country ha# gone through that.

5t one stage our


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Ranil Wickramasinghe: Iknow that...what we have sai# is : as far as we are concerne# we are not

&ulling the security forces out of any &lace unless we see im&rovements ..2ut at the same time there is lots

of lan# that can be release# to the &eo&le in #ifferent &arts of the country. We have starte# with the

thousan# acres now the TN5 sai# there has been an agreement in court over another two thousan# acres$ 0

*ust han#e# over to the attorney general .They have raise# the issue of &eo&le in Mannar$ we will go into it

an# >illinochi. We sai# lot of lan# has been utili?e# for other &ur&oses. 0n !am&ur we have han#e# the re:

settlement to the &eo&le in !am&ur...then in Panama we have resettle# that issue thats for !inhala farmers

whose lan#s were taken away so that they coul# buil# V0P chalets e. We are starting the &rocess but

remember this cannot be #one overnight...it will take some time

THANTHI TV:2ut he blames the slow &ace

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 0 tol# you that 0 #isagree with him. 'e is irres&onsible an# he will have to

e+&lain himself for the Tamil s&eaking &eo&le. Lots of Tamils are to#ay critici?ing him. 0 am #ealing here

with the TN5 members of &arliament$ if it is at slow &ace they nee# not come weekly

THANTHI TV:This is not the TN51s #eman# alone the %N high commissioner has also been #eman#ing

this... international community has been #eman#ing this

Ranil Wickramasinghe: %N high commissioner wants the lan#s restore# .They say imme#iately an# 0

have aske# him to come$ it has to be gra#ual. "irst we have to be satisfie# with the security situationsecon#ly we have to #eci#e what ha&&ens in the rest of the country$ but it was not a 9uestion$ we never sai#

in the @BB #ays manifesto which everyone vote# for about &ulling troo&s out .0t was a security #ecision$ we

sai# about restoring lan#s to the &eo&le in all &arts of !i Lanka

THANTHI TV:2ut what sto&s you from #oing that

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Nothing to &revent us. 5ll the lan# that is not re9uire# will be #one

THANTHI TV:2ut the ratio( 5rmy civilian ratio in the North is not &ro&ortionate to the other &arts of the

country.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Armycivilian ratio will be a#*uste# as time goes on. No one has sai# it is going

to be that high all the time. 0sn1t Vigneshwaran &laying &olitics( 0t is utter irres&onsible statement of a

3hief Minister.

THANTHI TV:'e has a line of two in &raise of the &resi#ent why #o you think he blames you.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 'e never even s&oke to me on anything. To#ay you ask him again to re&eat it.

0ll be going to


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THANTHI TV:4ou #i# not smile(

Ranil Wickramasinghe) 0 woul# have smile# at him. 'e was a man who went an# grabbe# Ra*a&aksa here=

he was willing to #o a #eal with Ra*a&aksa. 0 have not #ealt with him. 0 have never ha# #ealings with him.

THANTHI TV:5s chief Minister he has to #eal with the &resi#ent

Ranil Wickramasinghe) No he has never come even otherwise as 3hief Minister he never #ealt with me as

o&&osition. Wigneswaran has ha# no #ealing. 0f he sai# so he is a liar. Ne+t time 0 go to


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Ranil Wickramasinghe: Itworks with 0n#ia. 0 sai# we #on1t have the &rece#ence of 0n#ia. 0t hasnt

worke# here. We ha# it earlier. We haven1t got it now. "ortunately 0ns&ector eneral of &olice sai# look 0

will carry out what is e+&ecte# of me un#er the law for the election. 5s a result he brought in former

0ns&ector eneral of &olice an# ma#e him the secretary of the minister of Public or#er who trie# to overrule

this. The country has agree# that there shoul# be no &olitici?ation of &olice. 'ow we achieve is the matter

that the whole &arliament has to #iscuss. There is the fear that if there is &olitici?ation of the &olice that will

lea# to central government having one may be with the Prime minister after the amen#ment$ one un#er the

chief ministers so there are @B &olice forces. We brought in in#e&en#ent &olice service commission in 8BB@

when the &olice was not &olitici?e# in this way. Now the &arties have to talk to each other to see that there

are more ste&s to #e&olitici?e the &olice force an# what is the relationshi& between hea# of government an#

&olice an# the 3hief Ministers an# the &olice.

THANTHI TV:The other concern is about the merger...Woul# you consi#er the merger of the north an#

the east(

Ranil Wickramasinghe: The constitution of !ri Lanka &rovi#e# for H &rovinces an# that any mergers

re9uires a referen#um in both those &rovinces

THANTHI TV:2ut it is an integral &art of the accor#

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 0t is not a &art of the accor#. 0t only acknowle#ge# merger for @ yearJtem&orary merger for @ year an# in 8BBC Ra*a&aksa sai# 0 will not have a merger an# Prabakaran su&&orte#

him.

THANTHI TV:That is a cons&iracy theory

Ranil Wickramasinghe:Whatever it is... it &revente# the Tamils from voting. 0f you want a merger of

any two &rovinces or more @Ath amen#ment &rovi#es the way. 4ou can have a merger. That is the &rovincial

councils must vote in favor of the merger an# must be su&&orte# by the ma*ority of the &eo&le.

THANTHI TV:4ou talk about the full im&lementation of @Ath amen#ment without the merger$ without

the &olice &owers....

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Merger is not a &art of the @Ath amen#ment as the way you say. No one sai#

North an# east are going to be one &rovince= it was a tem&orary merger for @ year un#er the 0n#o:Lanka

accor# an# any merger there:after will have to be by a referen#um. Presi#ent


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THANTHI TV:-n the fishermen issue...This is a long stan#ing issue between 0n#ia , !ri Lanka...'ow #o

you &ro&ose to solve this issue.

Ranil Wickramasinghe) 0t1s an issue between Tamil Na#u fishermen , !ri Lankan fishermen... They

have got to sit #own , we have to work this out. There can be No bottom trawling. There can be no solution

that &ermits the 0n#ian fishermen to #o bottom trawling. This is basically !ri Lanka Waters... What woul#

you have #one if all our fishermen went into the 0n#ian waters , starte# fishing there...( Now what you are

claiming is$ we want to come there$ we want to fish in your water , we want to bottom trawl in your waters.

THANTHI TV:They say it is their tra#itional fishing right

Ranil Wickramasinghe:We are rea#y to consi#er the boats of the ty&e that were use# when

>atchatheevu issue was resolve#$ you use the boats of that ty&e...we will consi#er.

THANTHI TV:-ur fishermen are on recor# saying that they are rea#y to give u& bottom trawling.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Tell them to give u& bottom trawling. Look$ between you , me$ these are

relations...They are intermarrie#... They have to sit #own , sort it out. 5s far as the Northern fishermen of

!ri Lanka are concerne#$ it is their Track groun#s. 0f you have the ty&e of boats that were use# when

>atchatheevu has han#e# over$ 0f you are using same number of boats that were there when the agreement

was #one$ we are willing to talk on that.

THANTHI TV:4ou are willing to give them their tra#itional fishing right. (

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Weare willing to talk on that if it is restricte# to the ty&e of boats that were

use# when the >atchatheevu accor# was #one , the number of boats is e9ual to the number of boats that

were there #uring the >atchatheevu accor#.

THANTHI TV:4ou raise# the >atchatheevu issue... Tamil Na#u largely believes the retrieval of

>atchatheevu is the only solution for this issue... Woul# you consi#er ce#ing the islan#(

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Look...Look. >atchatheevu is a Part of !ri Lanka... 6elhi thinks it is a &art of !ri

Lanka$ 0 know it is a &art of Tamil Na#u Politics...0 know all of them... -n the issue of fishing$ this is what

we say...These are tra#itional waters... Peo&le who fish in it are the "ishermen in the North$ even in the

"ishermen in the south fin# some of the 0n#ian trawlers coming to the southern areas also$ like nearPuttalam. 0t is a big issue for us... 0t is their livelihoo#. We &revente# these D!ri LankanE fishermen from

fishing earlier because of the war$ -therwise they woul# have been fishing... 5t one stage LTT7 arme# some

of the fishermen to shoot the fishermen coming from 0n#ia. We are not #oing that

THANTHI TV:2ut there are allegations of !ri Lankan Navy shooting fishermen...5roun# IBB 0n#ian

fishermen were kille# in the last many years.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: No ...Not recently.

THANTHI TV:%ntil 8B@@.The last was in 8B@@.

Ranil Wickramasinghe) yeah. 0n 8B@@.Part of that earlier was #uring the time of war they felt some of

them actually were involve# in su&&lying of arms. Remember this$ that as far as we are concerne#$ even

to#ay The Northern "ishermen are shouting why the Navy isnt #efen#ing us... There were fishermen whohave written letters why arent you using the Navy to shoot them. 0t is from the fishermen of the North...

We have a *ob e+&laining to them$ Look these are territorial waters$ but we still have to go , talk to 0n#ia ,

sort it out.

THANTHI TV:May be there are such re9uests... 2ut #o you #eny the allegation that the !ri Lankan Navy

has carrie# out 'uman right violations against 0n#ian fishermen.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: !ri Lankan Navy ha# to &atrol it , at some stages there were shooting of

"ishermen at the height when we aske# fishermen to sto& to &revent flow of arms between 0n#ia , !ri


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Lanka.

THANTHI TV:0s that *ustifie# sir( !hooting fishermen of the neighboring country$ a frien#ly neighbor.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 0ts not a 9uestion of that. 5t that time$ LTT7 was running arms. . Whether !ri

Lankan "ishermen or 0n#ian fishermen$ they ha# to sto&$ when the Navy asks them to sto&. There also have

been instances of the !ri Lankan Navy shooting innocent fishermen. We have not sai# No to it.

THANTHI TV:!o$ that has ha&&ene#(Ranil Wickramasinghe:4eah... The fact that they have been running arms... 0n some instance they have

to shoot because they were &oaching on !ri Lankan Waters.

THANTHI TV:Poaching waters( 3an this be &unishe# with shooting...( 'uman rights violations(

Ranil Wickramasinghe:Why are you coming into our waters( Why are you fishing in our waters...( !tay

on the 0n#ian si#e... There will be no issue...No one will shoot anyone else...4ou stay on the 0n#ian si#e$ Let

our fishermen stay on the !ri Lankan si#e... -therwise #ont make accusations of 'uman rights violation by

the Navy. 4ou came in there.

THANTHI TV:Lot of frien#ly neighbors have fishing agreements.

Ranil Wickramasinghe) 4ou be on to that si#e$ we be on that si#e. Why #o you all &ick u& the 0taliansailors...( 4ou say you are frien#ly with 0taly$ show that same magnanimity to 0taly that you want us to

show.

THANTHI TV:They kille# our fishermen...We are still following the course of law

Ranil Wickramasinghe) Look... 0f you want us to show that magnanimity to your fishermen. 0n#ia

shoul# show the same magnanimity to 0talian sailors.

THANTHI TV:attack was on the 0n#ian fishermen... 0talian marines shot our 0n#ian fishermen.

Ranil Wickramasinghe) Look$ you are taking away the livelihoo# for our Northern fishermen.

THANTHI TV:That cant *ustify taking away lives sir.

Ranil Wickramasinghe: ifsomeone tries to break into my house$ 0 can shoot. 0f he gets kille#...Lawallows me to #o that... -n the fishermen issue$ 5s far as 01m concerne#$ 0 have very very strong lines. This is

our waters..."ishermen of


13/13

scri&t$ the Tamil scri&ts all ha# no ovts involve#. 0t will take &lace.

THANTHI TV:2ut if the ovts facilitate$ it can ha&&en faster

Ranil Wickramasinghe: Thats true... 7m&eror 5shoka facilitate# Mahin#a coming to !ri Lanka...We

can facilitate...0ts a normal &rocess...it will kee& growing

THANTHI TV:What to e+&ect of Prime Minister Mo#i1s visit to !ri Lanka(

Ranil Wickramasinghe: 0t1s a goo#will one to restore the ties between the two countries

THANTHI TV:Thank you very much...5 &leasure talking to you.

ranil wickramasinghe’s interview to thanthi tv

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