In a recent interview with the state owned Sinhala daily 'Dinamina' newspaper, MP Gunasekara said the Tamil diaspora living abroad for 30 years should be brought to the country do they can engage with people in the country in a broad discussion and get to know each other. Then only reconciliation can be achieved, he said.

The senior politician said the whenever the people hear the word 'diaspora' they think of the terrorist group LTTE. This incorrect interpretation of 'diaspora' was done for political advantages and it should be cleared.

He explained that the 'diaspora' includes all Sri Lankans - Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim- living and working abroad and not just Tigers.

In order to encourage diaspora members to engage and contribute to efforts in Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry is keen to organize a diaspora festival later this year, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera said in parliament last week.

The Minister said that such an event, depending on how it progresses, could even take the form of a regular annual event, to connect Sri Lanka to its diaspora.

"This will enable the communities in the country to benefit from the knowledge, capacity, expertise and skills of the Sri Lankan diaspora," Samaraweera said announcing the idea.

MP Gunasekara noted that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) too recommended such events. He added that on several occasions, he had urged the former President to implement such measures but the latter instead listened to the racists.

The former senior minister said the LLRC report was prepared by an intelligent board and at least now the recommendations made by them should be implemented.