A photographic exhibition depicting atrocities committed by the LTTE was inaugurated at the UNESCO Delegation Hall in Paris on Tuesday (04) by retired General Alain Lamballe, a French expert on South Asian Affairs. 

The inauguration of the two-day exhibition was patronized by a large number of Ambassadors, senior French Government officials, including from the Foreign and Interior Ministries, members of the France-Sri Lanka Friendship Group of the National Assembly, media and NGOs, a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry said. 

It said: "Speaking on the occasion, General Lamballe said that democracy faces many challenges from terrorism, not only in Sri Lanka but in other parts of the world as well.  He expressed the hope that the conflict in Sri Lanka will end soon and a lasting political settlement reached. 

The Charge d’ Affaires of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Paris, Ms. Himalee Arunatilaka addressing the gathering stated that the exhibition that is being held would create public awareness of the many atrocities committed by the Tamil Tigers, probably the only terrorist organization in the world, that has assassinated the leaders of two countries- President Ranasinghe Premadasa of Sri Lanka and former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.  The LTTE’s use of suicide bombing, ethnic cleansing of Muslims from the North of Sri Lanka and the abominable practice of forcible recruitment of children to its fighting cadre are well documented.  She called on democratic governments to come together to respond to the challenges posed by terrorism in a tangible manner, by ensuring that the freedom of expression in countries such as France is not abused to glorify and perpetuate the cult of martyrdom of  LTTE suicide bombers. 

She emphasized that the exhibition serves to give message that terrorism, whatever its justification, is simply not acceptable and that it can be defeated and that democracy must prevail."