Concerted measures being taken to promote Lanka’s image abroad - Foreign Minister

COLOMBO: Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the Government will take immediate measures to develop a cohesive strategy to counter the current disinformation campaign against the Sri Lankan Government with “clarity and credibility”.

He said while the Government was conscious of concerns raised by the international community with respect to human rights and humanitarian conditions in the country and had taken a series of meaningful steps to address this situation.

This message was not being effectively communicated to the international community. The Government was also concerned about the extent of the disinformation being disseminated by the LTTE and its sympathisers, Bogollagama said addressing a conference of Secretaries of relevant line Ministries at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

The Minister said an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona has been appointed to undertake concerted action to arrest this trend.

This committee will include Secretaries of the Ministries of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Defence, Justice and Law Reforms, Plan Implementation as well as the Secretary to the President, the Attorney General, the Commissioner General of Essential Services and Secretariat for Coordination of the Peace Process (SCOPP) and will focus on immediate issues that could be addressed through practical measures.

Addressing the meeting Dr. Kohona who reiterated the Government’s resolve to remain transparent and accountable said, while the Inter-Ministerial Secretaries Committee will meet on a weekly basis and function as the clearing house for issues, focal points will be identified in each of these institutions to track developments and to respond to concerns that arise with speed and efficiency on an ongoing basis.

The e-mail system will be employed to the fullest extent.

He said the Government will seek to put to rest false allegations, investigate instances where credible evidence exists and institute modalities that would help prevent the occurrence of any incidents of concern.