Empower people to sustain vibrant democracy - Minister Bogollagama

In an environment where terrorism is a worldwide threat, Sri Lanka has adopted a policy of empowering the people, to confront this challenge.

Such an approach is vital to sustain a vibrant democracy, especially in the light of the absence of democratic rule for over two decades in the Eastern Province.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, when he addressed the Sri Lankan Diaspora on Monday in Reykjavik, Iceland. He emphasised the need to rid Sri Lanka of terrorism in order to sustain democratic rule.

He also made the point that countering terrorism, as is being done today in the North and the East of Sri Lanka, would pave the way for the empowerment of the people of those regions.

Minister Bogollagama elaborated that while the Eastern Province has been successfully cleared of the LTTE, the Sri Lanka Government is also pursuing a similar policy in the Northern Province.

He outlined the Sri Lanka Government's action on the political front including the APRC process, implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and Local and Provincial Council elections in the Eastern Province, leading to the establishment of a provincial administration.

He stated that with these steps, it is evident that the Government is not pursuing a military solution, as erroneously perceived by some sections of the international community.

The Minister was emphatic that the Government will pursue a democratic process to address the grievances of all groups of the Sri Lankan polity.