Treachery against the nation must be stopped-The President

Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order

President Mahinda Rajapksa says that the time has come to stop the absurd treachery against the motherland carried out by certain power hungry politicians in the country. He said that he will not betray the motherland or fail in the responsibility vested upon him by the people to protect her form any adversary.

President made these comments speaking at a meeting held at Presidential Secretariat this morning (Saturday the 10th of March). The meeting was held to create awareness among the scholars and the eminent persons on the country's prevailing security situation, development plans and the progress on the peace process.

Referring to the recent allegations against the government and the security forces made by certain politicians with regard to Human right violations, the President said that these were made with sinister motive gaining power. He pointed out that the people behind these campaigns were in a fanatic haste to gain power and make money and would not hesitate to go to any extent to fulfil their desires.

Speaking further the president revealed that there exist a great conspiracy against the motherland orchestrated by the LTTE terrorists, few defeated politicians and certain power hungry people. He pointed out that recent finding of dead bodies in various parts of the country was a part of this bloody coup to tarnish good image of the government before the international community. He queried whether the those valiant soldiers who rescued thousands of civilians from terror clutches in Sampur , Mavil Aru and Vakarai battles, without harming a single civilian would come to Colombo and start abducting innocent civilians. He also queried the Scholars whether they would believe a discerning government in any way would behave in such an asinine manner when it is about to participate for the meeting of UN Human Rights Commission. He said that he was as prepared as ever to protect and promote the human rights and repudiated the allegations as baseless.

President Rajapaksa also explained that while bold actions are being taken to safeguard country's territorial integrity, the government has also undertaken massive development plans for the country. He said that, a solution to the ethnic issue acceptable by all ethnicities will be brought before the people in near future through the all party conference. He also revealed that the LTTE from the inception of the CFA had no genuine interest in coming to a peaceful settlement but to further its terrorist war against SL citizen.

Finally, the President said that the conspirators against the nation have already been identified by the government and will be brought before the law without much delay. He requested the scholars to decide whether there is any restriction for freedom of any lawful person living in the country. Therefore, He pointed out that the underpinning motive of the treacherous campaigners was to save the terrorists from the security forces and to achieve their sinister objectives through capitalising on whatever the bloodbath carried out by the terrorists.

Expressing views on so called "abduction" of persons at the meeting Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa requested the council of scholars to analyse situation carefully and see whether any UNPer, JVPer or member of any other democratic political party has been arrested by the security forces so far.

He emphasised that no person had been arrested for mere political reasons or criticising the government by the security forces. He said that all the arrests that had been made by the law enforcement authorities so far, were lawful and backed by substantial evidence against suspects for aiding terrorism.

The meeting was also attended by the senior government officials and the military chiefs.