Prime Minister sets record straight on Pakistan

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake making a special statement in Parliament yesterday said certain sections of the media had published distorted reports on the stand taken by Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting in Kampala, Uganda regarding the suspension of Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said therefore he wished to explain to the August Assembly, the stand taken by the President and the Government on this issue. Sri Lanka's stand was that Pakistan should be given time to enter the democratic path.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama too stated before the Commonwealth Ministerial Sub Committee that Pakistan should be given time and emphasised that no action should be taken against Pakistan.

When the Ministerial Sub-committee decide to recommend the suspension of Pakistan, Bogollagama with the concurrence of the President had expressed strong objections to the decision.

He had expressed dissent both by voting and speaking against it. The Prime Minister said he wished to inform the House that the President and the Government took the firm stand that Pakistan was a friend of Sri Lanka and that the Commonwealth should not take a firm stand against it.