Executive President put in fetters: time is ripe to defeat fake patriots and pedestal Mihindu -Sangamitta ahimsa traditions

 (Lanka-e-News-25.March.2012, 3.00PM) The people of the country who are not fully aware of the resolutions adopted at the Geneva conference , the deceitful politicians, the opposition frauds and counterfeit patriots have taken offence against those resolutions and begun opposing them . But the question is , can we Sri Lankan Buddhists who are adherents of Mihindu Thero and Sangamitta and who have made ‘ ahimsa’ as an integral part of our life, as men ,women and youths having intelligence truly oppose these proposals.?
Please carefully read the resolutions given hereunder that were adopted yesterday at the Geneva conference:
UNHRC covenant. 
Universal statement regarding human rights following the universal treaties and other relevant documents pertaining to human rights.
As noted under 5/1 and 5/2 of the recommendations strengthening the Human rights Council.
It is reiterated that when a country is engaged in a conflict against terrorists , the measures taken by it are bound by international laws., specially international human rights ,while refugee and humanitarian laws shall be abided by to the maximum .
It is noted that the explanations and recommendations in the SL lessons learnt and reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report regarding national reconciliation measures are monitored .
 Full story >> 

WikiLeaks: Sri Lanka’s New Friends Cannot Compete With Her Old Ones – Butenis

Patricia Butenis
  By Colombo Telegraph 

“Although Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa trumpets the importance of Sri Lanka,s friendship with China, the relationship is verylopsided in terms of trade. For example, in 2008 Chinese exports to Sri Lanka constituted 96% of total bilateral trade. In terms of investment, Hong Kong has become a key source of foreign direct investment to Sri Lanka, while China proper focuses on direct government aid. In contrast, Sri Lanka investment in China consists of a few tea shops. Though at times the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) asserts it does not need the U.S. and the West since it can turn to new friends such as China, there is no indication that China can replace Western export markets. In terms of investment and trade importance, Sri Lanka’s new friends cannot compete with her old ones in the United States and EU.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

 
Under the subheading “SRI LANKAN-CHINESE TRADE TILTS HEAVILY TOWARD CHINA” the ambassador wrote “China remains one of Sri Lanka’s fastest growing trading partners. Trade between the two countries almost doubled from 2005 to 2008, rising from US $660 million to US $1.138 billion. While Sri Lankan exports increased from US $29.4 million in 2005 to US $46.8 million in 2008, imports from China have grown even more. In 2008, Sri Lanka imported US 1.091 billion from China resulting in a net trade deficit of US 1.044 billion. China is one of Sri Lanka’s largest sources of imports, second only to India, which totaled more than US 3.4 billion in 2008. Sri Lanka’s primary exports to China include raw commodities, apparel items, and tea. Sri Lanka primarily imports various types of machinery and equipment, raw materials, and chemicals from China. Sri Lankan imports from China accounted for a significant portion of total Sri Lankan imports while Sri Lankan exports to China comprised a very small portion of total exports in 2008.” Read Mor
e

Pressure not to include swords to the killing of the two Buddhist monks

Monday, 26 March 2012 

The President has ordered the DIG in-charge of Colombo Anura Senanayake to immediately inquire into the media reports that have been published saying the murder of the two Buddhist monks at the Kottee Rajamaha Vihara had taken place following an attempt to steal an ancient sword and correct such reports while taking appropriate action against the police officers who have made such statements.

There is currently a controversy over the issue since the story is that a government backed group was responsible for the theft of swords at the National Museum in search for King Dutugemunu’s sword and two such persons who had arrived at the Kotte Rajamaha Vihara to steal ancient swords had killed the tow monks.

The Lakbima newspaper reported on the 22nd that a suspect who is currently in police custody had made a statement saying that he along with his friend had gone to the temple to steal an ancient sword and they had to kill the two monks following the incident that ensued. The news item was published in other newspapers as well.

The President has been disturbed after news report was published saying the National Museum theft and the killing of the two monks was done by a group engaged in looking for King Dutugemunu’s sword.

Following the Presidential directive, DIG Anura Senanayake has told several media that the murder was over a financial transaction of Rs. 10 lakhs, but the suspects had been unable to collect the monies.

Angered that the Rivira newspaper had published a news report saying the murder of the two monks was due to an attempt to steal an ancient sword, the President had called the CEO of Rivira newspapers, Gairuka Perusinghe and asked him not to publish such reports after shouting at him.

The President has also called heads of several media institutions that have carried similar news reports about the killing of the two monks and had asked that the news should not be connected to the “sword incident.”

I will break the limbs and bones of Sunanda, Nimalka, Poddala and Packiasothy in public – Mervyn the discarded vermin openly threatens

 (Lanka-e-News-24.March.2012,11.55PM) The public relations Minister Mervyn Silva the notorious vermin of the murderous Rajapakse regime and the Minister who is tainted with corruption and extortion crimes had openly in public at Kiribathgoda threatened to break the limbs and bones of journalists Sunanda Deshapriya , Poddala Jayantha and human rights activists Dr. Packiasothy Saravanamuttu and Lawyer Nimalka Fernando. This Mervyn the vermin had stated this with full venom at the demonstrations staged to defend the MaRa regime at Kiribathgoda yesterday.
‘Nobody can touch this country. I regret that Sunanda Deshapriyas , Poddala Jayanthas and Nimalka Fernandos , were the scoundrels who cut this country’s belly. It is I who saw to it that Poddala Jayantha is chased out from the country. I am fearlessly and openly telling now, that fellow Poddala went because of me. There is another one fellow , that is Packiasothy. These are the individuals who went to Geneva and gave evidence against our country. I am telling this publicly to be published. If you all were in Lanka and have got caught your bones and limbs would have been broken by me personally. Mervyn Silva is such a man – a deadly goon who breaks ribs and limbs ruthlessly. I am telling this with full responsibility. No matter who engages in conspiracies , this country is mine not yours . I am a good Sinhala Buddhist. I will not allow anybody to auction my Sinhala and Buddhist traits. The Parliamentary seat I acquired with your votes is there for me until 2016. The Minister position given to me by the President will last as long as his Presidency lasts . That wont change- I wish to convey this message .’ 

As this Mervyn the vermin , the notorious extortionist bragged about his tough rowdy nature , so he betrayed the culprit behind the attack launched on Poddala Jayantha in which incident the latter’s legs were broken. Mervyn openly admitted that he is responsible for that crime . This Mervyn the Minister of MaRa regime who is proud about his rowdy nature is only preoccupied with his favorite hobbies of committing extortion and violence . Like his underworld associates , he has no time to acquire even the basic knowledge regarding the Geneva conference . It is therefore no wonder he indulges in the most stupid utterances against the Geneva sessions . Another of his absurd statement is in relation to Poddala who had never even gone close to Geneva, let alone give evidence in Geneva.

The public should know that Dr. Packiasothy against whom this MaRa regime is fastening the label of traitor is the grandson of late P Saravanamuttu . It is his grandfather who gifted the famous P Saravanamuttu cricket stadium to the people of Sri Lanka . It is out of his own personal funds this stadium was built , unlike MaRa regime’s so called cardboard patriots like Mervyn the vermin who are doing lip service while also lining their pockets through corruption and extortion.

It has become crystal clear to the entire world that what exists in this country now is not a Govt. respecting the rules of law and democratic traditions , but a regime that is openly brutal run by a group of murderers headed by a despotic Idi Mahin 

Betraying Tamils

 M J Akbar, March 26, 2012
Policy paralysis
Dr Henry Kissinger had just become America’s secretary of state when Egypt’s president Anwar Sadat surprised the world and stunned his Arab world by launching a successful war against Israel on October 6, 1973, the day of Yom Kippur. Within 24 hours Egyptian troops had crossed the Red Sea and raced across the Sinai desert to recover territory lost in 1967. 

At the end of that fateful day, Kissinger sent a simple but powerful private message to Sadat through a non-official channel: ‘You have begun the war with Soviet weapons, but you will need the power of American diplomacy to establish a peace.’

Sadat understood. Israel’s counteroffensive was inevitable, shifting the course of war. America and Soviet Union went on high alert. It was America which helped establish not only the ceasefire lines that have held to this day, but also, over the next five years,  negotiate the tripartite settlement between Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter that still constitutes the framework of peace in the region.

It was the kind of role that Delhi could have, and indeed should have, played in the Sri Lanka civil war that ended in such a bloody climax in January 2009. The DMK was in power in both Tamil Nadu and Delhi then, but it accepted the policy of restraint crafted by Manmohan Singh and his foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee. That was wise. But wisdom petered out when the Congress-DMK alliance simply forgot that wars do not necessarily end with defeat; and in the specific case of Lanka Tamils, they had an obligation to ensure  a comprehensive rehabilitation of Tamils that accommodated post-defeat realities.

 The message that Delhi should have sent to Colombo is obvious: ‘You have won the war with others’ weapon, but you will need Delhi to find peace.’ However, the UPA government  walked away from this responsibility, even though Tamil Nadu voted for the DMK-Congress alliance in the summer of 2009, which in turn played a decisive part in the re-election of UPA.

Perhaps the momentum was lost when Pranab Mukherjee left external affairs to go to finance, but a shift in portfolios cannot absolve a government whose first duty is protection of the national interest.

Delhi refused to use the power of Indian diplomacy to eliminate the reasons that had led to the Lanka civil war. Kissinger, conversely, ensured the withdrawal of Israeli troops on Egyptian soil but recognised the necessity of letting Egyptians keep their military gains since they had repossessed their own territory from Israel. He understood that Egypt could not negotiate even an interim settlement with Israel as long as its land was under Israeli control. 

Uncooperative past

But in the three years that have passed since the death of Tamil Tigers leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, Delhi has behaved as if the Tamil problem in Lanka was over, and the past is a bad memory which should be allowed to lapse in silence. But the past is never so cooperative, particularly if there are demons hidden in its fog.

Guilt is something that governments rarely, and foreign policy establishments never, admit. One wonders if there is a story of Delhi’s collusion with Colombo during the last phase of the war, when some 40,000 civilians were allegedly butchered, that this UPA government would prefer to lock in the secrecy of archives? Is UPA worried that public debate will release ghosts that it wants safely buried?

The American resolution in the United States will not succeed in punishing anyone in Sri Lanka who committed war crimes. If anything it could increase the domestic popularity of president Rajapakase, who showed the necessary resolve to win a war that had lasted most of a generation. The Tamil Tigers did not fight by any rules; they spread havoc through terrorism when they could.  They took the life of a Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. But it has succeeded in reviving a debate which went quiet, but never disappeared.

It was public pressure from Indian Tamils that finally forced DMK and Congress to take a position; they had enough time to take the initiative themselves, but did not do so. Indian diplomats surely do not need the United Nations as a player in what, ideally, should have been part of the bilateral process between India and its neighbour.

The sin of omission was compounded by the sin of commission. The manner in which UPA took this decision betrayed its vacillation and weakness. When foreign policy becomes hostage to coalition compulsions, it is evident that the political class is not doing any thinking. Over the last three years, there has been a sequence of blunders in the neighbourhood, from mentioning Balochistan in a communique with Pakistan to dropping the Teesta ball with Bangladesh and now a faux pas with Sri Lanka.

  Political uncertainty has made Indian diplomacy weaker than India's weight would warrant. The consequences will last longer than this government. 

Impact of UNHRC Resolution on India-Sri Lanka relations

 26-Mar-2012

By Col R Hariharan

India was among the 24 countries that voted for the U.S. draft resolution on Sri Lanka’s accountability in respect of human rights violations which was passed at the 19^th meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at Geneva. Fifteen member countries opposed it while eight abstained.

The text of the resolution is at Annexure. By voting for the resolution, India has shown it concurs with two core issues contained in the resolution:

1.      Sri Lanka has not adequately taken up follow up action on the LLRC’s recommendations on a host of issues. It needs “to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, re-evaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement on the devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for all and enact rule of law reforms.”

2.       The need for Sri Lanka to speedily work out a “comprehensive action plan detailing the steps that the Government has taken and will take to implement the recommendations made in the Commission’s report, and also to address alleged violations of international law [presumably including the allegations of war crimes as well].

One of the core aspects of India’s foreign policy has been to build strong strategic, political, and trading relations with Sri Lanka.  In the past India had stood by its ally on a wide range of issues both outside and inside international forums. When Sri Lanka faced a similar predicament in the UNHRC in 2009 India worked behind the scenes to bale out Sri Lanka.     Full Story>>>

Damage control to revive ties?

 26 Mar 2012, 0852 hrs IST, AGENCIES
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi on Sunday (March 25) said India supported the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka keeping in mind Tamil sentiments, but assured that it would not affect relations with Colombo. 

"Issues of human rights violation were moved by certain western countries before the UNHRC. Due to the Tamil issue, the Government of India could not ignore the resolution and voted for it," Ravi told reporters on the sidelines of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Kolkata Malayalee Samajam. 

"We have taken the sentiments and compulsions of the Tamil polulation in mind. We cannot ignore the sentiments of our citizens and as such we had to take this decision (to vote for the resolution)," he said. 

Describing Sri Lanka as a "neighbouring and friendly" country, he said India's support to the UNHRC resolution would not affect relation with that country. 

In a major embarrassment to Sri Lanka, the UNHRC adopted a resolution on Tuesday censuring it for alleged war crimes in the conflict with LTTE, with India joining the West in backing the US-sponsored move. 

Of the 47 UN Human Rights Council member-countries, 24, including India, voted for the resolution and 15 against it, while eight nations abstained. 

India, which normally does not vote on nation-specific resolutions, made a last-minute departure after overwhelming pressure from parties in Tamil Nadu, especially the DMK which had even considered pulling out its ministers from the government at the Centre, to vote against Sri Lanka. 

Minister Mervyn in 'cover up of VVIP'

Mr Jayantha says he does not rule out Minister Mervyn Silva's involvement in the attack

The senior journalist union leader who was forced to flee Sri Lanka after being brutally attacked has accused a controversial minister of making public statements in order to protect the real perpetrators.

Poddala Jayantha was abducted by an unidentified group on 1 June 2009 taken to a hideout, brutally assaulted and left on the street with a broken leg, the next morning.

He was forced to leave the country having received death threats due to his refusal to speak up against threats and intimidation even after the attack.

After the US-sponsored resolution was passed in Geneva, Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva has said that he is the one who forced Mr Jayantha to leave Sri Lanka.

Investigation suspended

“I'm the one who chased Poddala Jayantha out of this country. I am telling you about this incident today. He went because of me," Mervyn Silva said.

I firmly believe that the person who ordered the abduction and the brutal assault on me was a senior defence official   Poddala Jayantha

But the former president of Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), says that the minister is working on "a contract" to get the real perpetrator released from the crime.

"I firmly believe that the person who ordered the abduction and the brutal assault on me was a senior defence official," he told BBC Sandeshaya from the United States.

Noting that Minister Mervyn Silva made similar statements few times, he says he was not surprised of the attempt given that the minister's past behaviour.

"I believe that I will be able to bring the real perpetrator who ordered to abduct and torture me when democracy and rule of law is re-established in Sri Lanka," added Poddala Jayantha.

Speaking to the BBC Sinhala service earlier, Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said that people do make statements that implicate themselves in a crime in order to 'save someone else who committed a crime'.

The judicial investigation into the abduction and torture of Poddala has been suspended due to lack of evidence.

"Now the police have a good opportunity to re-open the case with the new evidence provided by Minister Silva," addedd Mr Jayantha.

He did not rule out the involvement of Minister Silva in the attack. However, he said he believes the order came from a top defence official.

Lankan navy personnel attack TN fishermen in mid-sea

  Mar 25, 2012
Nagapattinam (TN) In yet another mid-sea attack, Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly attacked six fishermen from Tamil Nadu'sNagapattinam district.
The fishermen, who had put out to sea on March 20, claimed they were attacked by the Sri Lankan naval personnel on March 23 while they were fishing in a mechanised boat about 35 nautical miles off-Kodiakarai coast, officials said.
The fishermen alleged the Lankan Navy personnel arrived in a speed vessel and surrounded their boat and attacked them before snatching away their GPS instrument, navigation and communication tools. However, they managed to reach the shore today.
The fishermen also alleged the Lankan Navy damaged their fishing nets and threw away the food packets and other valuables into the sea, the officials said.

The fishermen have lodged a complaint with coastal security police and fisheries authorities that the navy personnel also torn Indian flag mounted on the boat, they said.

War displaced stopped from cultivating

 25 March, 2012

The issue highlights the importance of land issues handled by the provinces, says the minister

The people in the former war-torn areas will not be able to enjoy the hard won freedom after decades of war if the government does not settle them back in their ancestral lands, says a provincial minister from the ruling party in Sri Lanka.

Wimalaweera Dissanayake, the land minister of the eastern province, made these remarks at a meeting people in Eravur to resolve land-related issues.

Residents of the area, mainly war displaced Muslims, informed the minister that they are prevented from re-cultivating their land by officials of the the central government.

Displaced people quoted government officials saying thousands of acres of paddy land has been set aside for grazing.

13 amendment

The minister said that the provincial government has not been informed of such action by the central government.

Although there should be areas reserved as grazing land for the cattle, the land issue of war displaced needs to be addressed as a priority   Provincial Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake

Apart from issues faced by those who were forced to flee the war, the minister said there are many other frictions created due to ethnic differences.

Therefore, said Minister Wimalaweera, he could not agree with any action that once again forces these people to leave their ancestral lands.

"Although there should be areas reserved as grazing land for the cattle, the land issue of war displaced needs to be addressed as a priority," he said.

He added that the exclusion of people from their lands highlights the importance of the handing over of land powers to provincial governments.

Provinces are yet to be given full Police and land powers legislated by the 13 amendment to the constitution adopted after the Indo-Lanka agreement signed in 1987.

Wijeweera family vs. Prabakaran’s family

 March 25, 2012By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya -

Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

“There are theories and there are facts. Theories vary… The facts however cannot be denied. Thousands of Tamils, old and young, and even little children, were assaulted, robbed, killed, bereaved, and made refugees. They saw their homes, possessions, vehicles, shops and factories plundered, burnt or destroyed. These people were humiliated, made to live in fear and rendered helpless…” A Cry From the Heart… What happened at the end of July 1983? (From Bishop Lakshman Wickremasinghe’s Final Pastoral Letter).

The Wijeweera family

The prabhakaran family

Channel 4’s “Killing Fields” director Callum Macrae wrote last week; A 12-year-old boy lies on the ground. He is stripped to the waist and has five neat bullet holes in his chest. His name is Balachandran Prabakaran and he is the son of the LTTE 

leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
He has been shot dead. Beside him lie the bodies of five men, believed to be his bodyguards. There are strips of cloth on the ground perhaps indicating that they were tied and blindfolded before they were shot – further evidence suggesting that the Sri Lankan government forces had a systematic policy of executing many surrendering or captured LTTE fighters and leading figures, even if they were children. The problem for the Sri Lankan government is that this murder is not isolated. If it was, they could perhaps dismiss it as the act of rogue soldiers.   

British forensic expert Professor Pounder believes he has identified the first of the shots to be fired at the boy: “There is a speckling from propellant tattooing, indicating that the distance of the muzzle of the weapon to this boy’s chest was two to three feet or less. He could have reached out with his hand and touched the gun that killed him.”

 Read More 

Uncle Sam lost in Geneva

 

POINT of VIEW

H. L. D. Mahindapala on 
return from Geneva

It took the entire might of the West led by America and the last minute betrayal of India to defeat Sri Lanka in Geneva. It also took three resolutions – first in 2009, then 2011 and finally in 2012 – to score a victory against Sri Lanka. Winning two out of three resolutions against Sri Lanka in Geneva is a commendable record. If the contest in Geneva was for a world cup, winning two out of three contests means that Sri Lanka is entitled to the trophy. The final count of 24 to 23 (taking into account the abstainers) too indicates that the West and India managed to score only by a whisker which amounts to a hollow victory. 

Resolution watered down
Besides, America was forced time and again to water down its resolution to get the necessary votes. Even after bringing it down to the barest minimum America and India barely managed to scrape through. Considering the heavy weights and the massive resources that went into battle against little Lanka the victory does not add to the prestige of either America or India. At the end of the day both appeared as untrustworthy bullies than triumphant victors of a moral cause. It will stand out as a text book case of human rights being exploited unashamedly to serve the domestic imperatives of big powers than the states and the communities struggling to regain peace, reconciliation and human rights that were denied by the deadliest terrorists who, like the sponsors of the US Resolution, hid behind human rights to violate international humanitarian law. It also demonstrates amply that human rights was a simple case of might is right and not right is might. Read more...

ICG acknowledges crisis but turns out cock-eyed on solutions

 [Sat, 24 Mar 2012, 10:40 GMT]
The International Crisis Group in its latest reports acknowledges militarisation and Sinhalicisation of Tamil land as currently the burning crisis in the island of Sri Lanka. It is implicit admission of structural genocide faced by the nation of Eezham Tamils. Both the Sinhala militarisation and colonisation increase the risk of a return to violence, the reports caution. But the ICG doesn’t want to see the historical impossibility of any righteous solution becoming successful in the island without secession. Reducing the nation of Eezham Tamils as ‘minorities’ and focussing the crisis of only the North, intriguingly leaving out the East, the ICG is cock-eyed in perceiving that elections to the northern provincial council under the rotten unitary constitution and control through foreign ‘development’ funds could bring in solutions, writes TamilNet political commentator in Colombo. Full story >>

Now is the time for spring cleaning the regime

After the setback in Geneva

At the time of writing, the outcome of the voting on the US sponsored resolution at the UNHRC is not known but I can’t expect a Sunday paper to hang on till Friday morning for my copy. I have heard that the Indian Prime Minister has made a statement tilting in favour of the resolution and that Nigeria is a co-sponsor, thus splitting the African block. Reading the leaves it seems that the resolution will be carried comfortably, or defeated by a small margin. In either case, the lessons and proposals in the remainder of this article remain unchanged. 
The first point that I must re-emphasize is that this is a resolution adopted, or nearly adopted, by the international community against Lanka’s sibling regime; it is not aimed against this country. It is no more against Lanka than a statement condemning the Burmese military junta could be construed as condemnation of the people of Burma. I live right here in this country; so do millions of others; how is it against our interests if pressure is applied to respect democratic rights and bring to a halt the violation of human rights? It is not against us, it is in our favour – Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim.

Spring cleaning the regime
Read more...  

After Geneva, government must evolve clear-cut policy

G.L produces fig leaf to cover up multitude of debacles and failures Reasons why India changed its stand, damage control measures urgently needed now

Sunday March 25, 2012                 By Our Political Editor

Like the proverbial story, the United Nations Human Rights Council laboured hard like a mountain, and brought forth by majority vote a mouse or a 'non-binding,' seemingly toothless US backed resolution on Sri Lanka on Thursday. Yet, the dangers it portend cannot be underestimated. For the first time, a UN body has brought the country under its microscope and the international community's scrutiny. For many days before the final document emerged, in Geneva, diplomats of India and the United States have been locked in secret consultations. India wanted to remove what seemed the only sting in the resolution - a provision that would empower the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to "provide, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept, advice and technical assistance on implementing" the provisions of the resolution. read more..

Govt’s stance unchanged vis-à-vis US Resolution

 – Acting Media Spokesman  Sunday 25 March 2012

domestic mechanism for internal affairs

By Sanjaya Nallaperuma

The government has not decided whether to accept the Resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka, said the Acting Media Spokesman and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane.
He added that the government will take a decision  when the UN delegation arrives in the country. “We will decide what to do depending on the situation at that point in time. We will hold discussions with the UN before anything is done,” he said.
However there is no change in the government’s stance on the US backed Resolution which was adopted by the UNHRC, Abeywardane said. The government believes that the internal affairs of the country can be resolved by domestic mechanisms and there is no need for outside assistance.
Meanwhile, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that the government should kick the US radio station Voice of America out of the country if the United States keeps on taking a hostile approach towards Sri Lanka.
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) MP Lakshman Kiriella told LAKBIMAnEWS that he believes that the US has no intention of intimidating Sri Lanka. He added that over 60% of Sri Lanka’s exports are bought by US and the European Union while China and Russia buy minimal amounts. “China buys nothing from us. Iran and Russia buy only a nominal amount. We should not antagonize our best clients and those who help to keep our economy afloat,” he said.
The UNHRC adopted the Resolution against Sri Lanka by 24 votes to 15 with eight abstentions last week.