Media Release : 23 January 2005

Asian Tribune Article on Muralitharan - A Clarification

I refer to an article in ASIAN TRIBUNE of January 23, 2005 titled 'Murali Bowls against Sri Lanka with an LTTE doosra'.

The article referred to statements allegedly made by Muthiah Muralitharan at the Habarana Hotel regarding tsunami aid to the North and the East and the role of Prabhakaran. The article also stated that the President of SPUR had said that "Murali's image will be damaged for ever if he does not clarify his position".

As the President of SPUR, I wish to state the need for a clarification from Muralitharan in the interest of his own image, the millions of his fans and Sri Lankan cricket as well as take this opportunity to clarify our position.

On numerous occasions SPUR has been in the forefront of the battle to safeguard Muralitharan’s character, his cricketing abilities and his right to earn a decent living seeking justice and fairness without discrimination.

Over the years, many Sinhalese and especially SPUR have transcended ethnic boundaries and acting as Sri Lankans have openly fought for Muralitharan. We, along with the rest of Sri Lanka, consider him to be a national hero. However, we are indeed disappointed with Muralitharan, if he has as alleged, expressed empathy with Prabhakaran, the 'Pol Pot of Asia’, as reported in the ASIAN TRIBUNE.

The article has also elaborated on what was stated by SPUR by referring to the Sinhalese community feeling 'hard done by' and 'used' when the Sinhalese community was often vilified in the media as discriminating against the general Tamil populous.

The Sinhalese community has been the victim of a consistent global campaign of vilification and denigration conducted by the LTTE and it’s supporters.  SPUR has been in the forefront to combat this campaign although no reference of this has ever been made to the Asian Tribune as reported in this article. 

We also wish to re-affirm that we are committed to campaigning on behalf of all Sri Lankans, irrespective of their ethnicity against the anti-democratic acts, racism, human rights violations and fascist terrorism of the LTTE.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Dr Dasarath Jayasuriya 

President

Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR)

Reg No. A 003 07777 M

PO Box 4066

Mulgrave    VIC 3170

Australia