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| Tuesday, 30 March 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Revive Sirimavo's proposal to keep Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace "We should not forget that it was the late Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike who proposed that the Indian Ocean should be kept as a zone of peace, away from big power politics. This proposal should be pursued with vigour today with greater interest, as it would help Sri Lanka to maintain good relations with all countries". So said M. M. Zuhair, President's Counsel and National list candidate of the United People's Freedom Alliance addressing a meeting of the Freedom Alliance at Chinafort, Beruwala in support of FA candidate Mr. M. S. M. Faleel. The UNP government followed a policy of open subservience to the Government of the United States which without a UN mandate invaded Iraq on the pretext that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, which they never found. The invasion was condemned by millions of people throughout the world, including millions of Americans and Europeans, and the major churches, he said. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe openly supported the US Government on the Iraqi invasion both here and in the UN. Not stopping at that, he pulled up the Iraqi Embassy in Colombo on frivolous allegations. Because of this subservience, Sri Lanka has become a centre of international power politics, which can have dangerous consequences to good relations with all countries, he said. President Kumaratunga believes in promoting goodwill and friendship with all states but will not follow UNP's foreign policy of subservience, Mr. Zuhair said, adding that President Kumaratunga very clearly criticised the US invasion of Iraq. The JVP organised a massive demonstration in Colombo in protest against the invasion. This does not mean that we are opposed to the US. It is an issue-based criticism. We need to build good relations with everyone including the US. There is a lot for third world countries to gain from the US, in the fields of education, science and technology. We need to build on them and enhance our relationship preserving our dignity and honour as a nation, he added. |
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