Basil silent on discussions with the Indians
Sunday, 07 July 2013
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s envoy to India, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has refused to comment in the discussions with the Indian government leaders during his two day visit to New Delhi.
He has said that some things must necessarily remain secret — as they would be between “husband and wife”.
As for the government’s move to present an urgent bill to parliament to amend the 13th Amendment to the constitution, Basil has said the government would not let go of it easily.
He has said that there are times when the government has brought urgent amendments and retracted, but it would not be given up.
“We hold the common position that it must be broadly discussed by the public,” he has told journalists in Colombo, adding, “The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is a good forum for this.”
“Some things can be said openly and some things cannot be said openly in diplomatic business between governments,” Basil has said.
“They gave us some of their views, we expressed our views. That is what usually happens,” he has added.
According to Basil, the two governments had not reached any agreements during his visit.
“I didn’t have the authority to reach agreements,” he has said.
Sunday, 07 July 2013 President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s envoy to India, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has refused to comment in the discussions with the Indian government leaders during his two day visit to New Delhi.
As for the government’s move to present an urgent bill to parliament to amend the 13th Amendment to the constitution, Basil has said the government would not let go of it easily.
He has said that there are times when the government has brought urgent amendments and retracted, but it would not be given up.
“We hold the common position that it must be broadly discussed by the public,” he has told journalists in Colombo, adding, “The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is a good forum for this.”
“Some things can be said openly and some things cannot be said openly in diplomatic business between governments,” Basil has said.
“They gave us some of their views, we expressed our views. That is what usually happens,” he has added.
According to Basil, the two governments had not reached any agreements during his visit.
“I didn’t have the authority to reach agreements,” he has said.
