Samanmalie PRIYASHANTHIƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Courtesy The Daily News

All must work together as Sri LankansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢

Govt has no need to implement such a proposalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”President courageously faced Geneva issueƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢

If Sarath Fonseka calls for the withdrawal of Security Forces camps from the North he is indirectly inviting foreign countries to meddle in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s internal affairs, said Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

If anyone tried to take undue advantage of a pardon granted to him it will a be a very lowly and unbecoming act on his part the minister added.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The time has now come for all to unite and work together as Sri Lankans and as such making such a statement to the international media can never be condoned, Minister Rambukwella said.

Minister Rambukwella expressed these sentiments responding to a question raised by a journalist at a press conference at his residence yesterday. This was the first press briefing by the minister since his return from Australia following treatment for a leg injury.

Minister Rambukwella said it is not a positive development if Sarath Fonseka has made such a statement to the international media.

Minister Rambukwella said although Sri Lanka achieved freedom in the context of the war it has not gained freedom in the international context and such statements of this nature attributed to Fonseka will only induce foreign countries to intervene in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s domestic matters.

The minister said that he believed Australia supported the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva because it had no proper awareness about conditions in Sri Lanka.

He said Australia changed its stand after getting to know the truth.

He said Sarath Fonseka is neither the Defence Minister nor Defence Secretary to recommend the removal of Security Forces camps in the North. The government has no need to implement a proposal made by such a person.

Since President Mahinda Rajapaksa had promised to look after the Geneva issue the Cabinet had no doubt about it.

The President who ended a 30 year war had the courage to face the Geneva issue. He said the government had still not abandoned its battle at the UNHRC.

Minister Rambukwella said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had paid special attention to him and inquired about his progress and welfare continuously from the day he suffered the accident and he wished to thank him for all the personal attention given.

He also thanked Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene for ably looking after his ministerial duties during his absence. He also thanked all his well – wishers and supporters who took a keen interest about his progress and welfare. He said he suffered the accident due to the insecurity and inadequate facilities at the hotel he booked in and he hoped to institute legal action against the hotel.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said Fonseka has started misusing the PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s magnanimity and kindness.

He said the President showed kindness in granting pardon to Fonseka.

Responding to FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s statement to a Tamil daily, the minister said Fonseka is trying to create unnecessary problems in the North when all communities are living in peace after the end of the conflict. The minister said terrorism was wiped out from the country due to President Mahinda RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dynamic leadership.

Fonseka had made a statement to a Tamil daily that the Sri Lanka Army is interfering in the civil administration in the North and Army camps should be dismantled from the Northern province.

The minister said Fonseka had made this statement to the media as a free man because President Rajapaksa pardoned him and released him. Minister Rambukwella also thanked the President and Cabinet colleagues for helping him after he met with an accident in Australia.

The minister said he would have to receive physiotherapy treatment for another four weeks. Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said this type of irresponsible statement by Fonseka will create problems in the North.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-This statement will affect the peaceful condition in the North. Fonseka thinks that foreign intervention is required to settle internal matters in the country,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he said.