LTTE holds arts festival in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 April 2003, 19:08 GMT]
"We are not against the Sinhalese and we are not for violence; we do not use the word 'peace' as a mere slogan. Our future depends on the success of peace," said Jaffna district political head of the LTTE, Mr.C.Ilamparuthi, delivering the keynote address at the five-day music, dance and drama festival inaugurated Tuesday at the Orr's Hill Vivekananda College Auditorium in Trincomalee, sources said.

Ms M.Singaravelu lighting the oil lamp.

Ilamparuthi further said: "We need peace in such a way that it will guarantee justice to all communities. The Cease-fire Agreement was signed on the basis of achieving justice to all communities. But normalcy has not yet returned in the Northeast. Tamils still live in a state of uncertainty. However, we are glad to see that Sinhalese live with happiness and normalcy after the ceasefire came into operation."

"True peace will dawn in the country when people live with peace of mind in their own lands. The Sri Lankan Government should take steps to restore normalcy in the Northeast. We want to live with equal rights and privileges enjoyed by majority Sinhalese," said Mr.Ilamparuthi.

Poet 'Puthuvai' Ratnathurai, head of the Arts and Cultural Department of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in a message said, "This cultural festival symbolizes the genuine search for peace by our national leader. The foundation for the festival was laid on his instruction."

He further said, "Arts reflects humanism. The festival will be remembered tomorrow that it is held at the right time, at the right direction and with the right perception. The festival will reveal to the world the pain of mind and the strength of the Tamils in this country."