18.05.2007

Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna in a hurriedly dispatched letter to Commander Security Forces Headquarters (SFHQ) Major General G.A. Chandrasiri on Thursday (17) denies having spoken to "Tamil Net" in the aftermath of a meeting at Palaly with Jaffna Commander on Wednesday (16).

Pro-LTTE mouthpiece "Tamil Net" in its Thursday's (17) lead story captioned "Normalcy not possible without students' release - Bishop" quoted the holy dignitary as saying "Immediate release of the abducted students is the only way to bring Jaffna peninsula educational activities back to normalcy" at a special meeting, held at Palaly with Jaffna Commander and representatives of People's Committee for Peace and Goodwill (PCPG).

The fabricated story further quoted Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna having said that "The educational activities of Jaffna University, resumed after much effort, face the risk of stalling completely due to the death threats made to the University community and unless immediate action is taken matters will worsen."

In his denial sent to Jaffna Commander Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, just a few hours after publication of the "Tamil Net" story, Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam says that after his return from Palaly meeting he had not spoken to any news media. "Hence, I deny totally the report ascribed to me by the "Tamil Net". This unfortunate report is much regretted. "

Here is the full text of his denial to Jaffna Commander;

"I am writing to you regarding the news item that appeared in the "Tamil Net" on 17th May 2007. The entire news item is said to have been given by the Bishop of Jaffna Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam. After my return from Palaly I had not spoken to any news media. Hence I deny totally the report ascribed to me by the "Tamil Net". This unfortunate report in much regretted. Thank you and God bless you"

Civil organizations as well as other dignitaries in Jaffna opine that this type of untrue, fabricated and misleading reports often published in "Tamil Net" is a thorough sacrilege purposely done with a view to damaging the excellent rapport and good relations being maintained between members of the civil society and Security Forces in the peninsula.