In a major shift in his policy, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that he will engage with the Tamil diaspora for reconciliation talks to resolve the country’s internal problems and would not hesitate to grant presidential pardon to Tamil youths languishing in jails for their association with the banned LTTE. Rajapaksa’s comments came as the UN Human Rights Council last week announced in Geneva that they are in possession of some 120,000 pieces of evidence on alleged abuses committed by Sri Lankan troops during the final phase of the conflict.
Rajapaksa, 72, in November 2019 upon being elected President said he had been elected by the Sinhala majority and would serve their interests. He had adopted a stance of non negotiations with the Tamil groups previously.
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Disclaimer: Ready to Engage with Tamil Diaspora for Reconciliation Talks: Sri Lankan Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa - Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Latheefarook.com point-of-view