Participation of Sri Lankan athletes will hurt feelings of Tamils
Stepping up her campaign against the Sri Lankan government after the emergence of what appeared to be new evidence of war crimes, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced that the State would not host the 20th Asian Athletics Championships to be held here in July.
The participation of Sri Lankan athletes would hurt the feelings of Tamils, she said, in a statement. The Asian Athletics Association (AAA), Singapore, which conducts the championships, would be asked to conduct the event elsewhere.
The Chief Minister on Wednesday condemned the Sri Lankan government over the alleged cold-blooded killing of Balachandran, son of the slain LTTE chief V. Prabakaran, terming it an “inhuman act”.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said her government wrote to the AAA, seeking the exclusion of the Sri Lankan contingent from the event. This was in view of the Sri Lankan government acting repeatedly against Tamils.
The sporting body had also been requested to intimate Sri Lanka in an appropriate way the State government's decision.
The AAA was requested to inform the State government of the follow-up action. Copies of the government's letter to the Association were sent to Secretaries of Union Ministries of External Affairs and Sports. “But there has been no reply or information from the Association so far,” she pointed out.
Ms. Jayalalithaa added that “since there has been no favourable response from the AAA, my government will at no cost accept holding the event, in which Sri Lanka is also participating, in Tamil Nadu. Tamils also will not accept it.”
The Chief Minister recalled that she ordered the return of Sri Lankan football players who were in Chennai for a friendly match in September last.
In July and August, after she stoutly opposed training given to defence officials of Sri Lanka at the Air Force Station, Tambaram, near Chennai, and Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, in Nilgiris district, the officials were withdrawn from the training programmes.
The Chief Minister said she had written a number of letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that no training should be given to Sri Lankan officials anywhere in the country including in Tamil Nadu.
Keywords: Asian Athletics Championships, Sri Lanka, Balachandran killing, Prabakaran's son death, Asian Athletics Association
Thank you honourable Chief Minister for your strong action.
Ms.Jayalalitha once again proved that she is a very smart political leader by this bold move.
I wish her political career extends beyond Tamilnadu !!!
It is unfortunate that the TN CM was forced to take such a drastic decision. Teh centre should shoulder the entire responsibulity for the happening in SriLanka. It has become a way of life for the centre to be a mute spectataor for all that happened in SRiLanka. It is unfortunate that we dont have a tall national leader like Indira Gandhi to act firm and send a stern warning to Srilanka. God save our country.
Thanks a lot as it would have exposed the poor civic sense of the public
and infrastructure of this ever-degrading city
May I congratulate The Chief Minister on her brave actions. And shame on the Central Government and the DMK for their insincere and apathetic behaviour.
Srilanka is almost similar area of Tmailadu,yet it wants its own way
and the centre have to handle the same in a very diplamatic way without further straining the relations between two nations.
Correct and appropriate decesion taken by the Hon.Chief Minister .By this statement she has invited world attention towards SriLanka Tamil Problem. What is goingon in Sri Lanka is genocide. There are lots of difference between what Sri Lankan President had said as soon as the war with LTTE was over and what is he doing now. He has proved that he is another cunning Sinhala man. Sri Lanka should be isolated in all fields just like South Africa was isolated during Apartheid days. SriLanka follows another type of Apartheid now.America and Britain have understood the situation in that country and SriLanka can not escape the UNHRC sponsored sanctions. India should support UNHRC move.Chief Minister should be contratulated.
Politics or not, with acute shortage of power and water so evident in
the state holding a sports event should not be a priority. It is a
welcome move.
Very good move by CM JJ, to express our strong condemnation. Hopefully
Srilankan govt should learn its lesson.
Brave move from TamilNadu C.M.
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