The real purpose of the truth, unity and reconciliation commission (TURC) bill is to establish a war crimes tribunal, alleged MP Udaya Gammanpila.
Its draft being tabled by the foreign affairs minister, instead of the minister of justice, gives rise to suspicion if it was introduced at the behest of the separatist diaspora Tamils, he said in parliament yesterday (10).
If the TURC is set up, it will be a realization of a dream of the Tamil separatists, the MP said further.
He said it was unfair to punish one party to a war, stressing that both sides should be dealt with equally.
He noted that 17,000 LTTE members either got arrested or surrendered in 2009, but none were punished like in other countries, and were rehabilitated and returned to their families.
Gammanpila questioned if it was reasonable to pardon the terrorists and punish the war heroes.
It should either be punishment or pardon for both sides, he added.
