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Arya Cakravarti Dynasty

The perilous and unstable situation reigning in the Northern and Eastern provinces, not to mention Southern Sri Lanka, appears to drive great desolation, fear, and a sense of inconsolable insecurity into the hearts of those who have to live through these conditions day by day in the island.

During the past year, a great many events have rocked the island of Sri Lanka. None of course could have foreseen the advent of such drastic events, such as, the “Tsunami” which devastated the coastal regions of the island.

I had ardently hoped on several occasions that inter-ethnic peace would reign especially after the natural catastrophe, but, as things stand, I cannot but feel sorrow at the course events are taking at the present moment. It is rumoured that some elements in society are trying to stop the peace process, thereby undermining the people's desperate desire for a peaceful solution to the ethnic problem.

It has also come to my notice that several minor anti-social groups are involved in extra-judicial killings, and these are unfortunately a daily occurrence. Even the presence of international monitoring groups does not seem to make much of a difference to them.

I urgently appeal to the international community to exert all pressure within their power to bring a halt to these killings perpetrated through air strikes in the north-eastern quarter of the country. It is about time that this wanton blood-bath be brought to an end. Let the people of the Northern and Eastern sectors live without fear of war. And, to this end, both sides should resume the peace talks.

I am aware that the Norwegian peace envoys held several meetings in the last few years with the Tamil Leader and with the Sri Lankan authorities. Promises were made, but unfortunately no action has as yet been taken to fulfill them.

May I take this opportunity to call upon all the peoples of Sri Lanka to support the peace process and to set aside their differences in order to finally create sustainable peaceful conditions for overall development. It should be borne in mind that the people in the war zones had - and still continue – to face untold hardship due to the lack of the observance of peaceful agreements in the country.

I would like to stress the utmost importance of having to take this opportunity now to achieve peace. The international community has provided Sri Lanka with the requisite opportunities to resolve its difficulties. Such assistance should be accepted with wide open arms.

As the Head of the Royal House of Jaffna, my wishes are directed towards the realisation of the well-being of the people. I do not look for personal gain. I only wish to be able to serve a people who have a right to live in peace and dignity. Many countries and many peoples have been at war with one another, but, sooner or later, they have all been able to put aside their petty differences and engage themselves in the pursuit of a meaningful and permanent peace for the good of all.

So let’s join hands and bring peace to the nation.

19 May 2006

H.R.H. Prince Remigius Kanagarajah of Jaffna

Head of The Royal House of Jaffna