No external influence against military drive - FM

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

KOTTE: Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday asserted in Parliament that the Indian Government or any other State has not influenced the Sri Lanka Government’s attempts to counter LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka.

Minister Bogollagama made this observation in response to a questions raised by JVP MP Vijitha Herath and National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa as to whether there were any outside pressure exerted on the Sri Lanka Government regarding its attempts to eradicate terrorism in Sri Lanka.

The Minister stated that India has made its position on defeating terrorism very clear and if there is a country that has helped Sri Lanka to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is India.

In a conversation via the phone, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh last Saturday discussed the situation in Sri Lanka.

Discussions centred on attempts to counter terrorism in Sri Lanka, disarming the LTTE and bringing a political solution guaranteeing democracy in the country.

The discussion also concentrated over the measures taken by the Government to fulfil the needs of the displaced.

Needs of displaced Muslims in Puttalam are being fulfilled after 15 years by the Government, the Foreign Minister said.

The Government’s attempt to fulfil the needs of nearly 400,000 displaced persons in the Eastern Province during the humanitarian operation without any of them being killed was appreciated by the international community, he said.

The Government has initiated successful plans to meet the needs of the displaced in Killinochchi, Medawachchiya and Mullaitivu.

India is a very close neighbour of Sri Lanka. The stance taken by both countries against terrorism is similar. Sri Lanka’s stance is to totally eradicate terrorism from Sri Lanka, he said.

The Indian Government has pledged its fullest support to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, Bogollagama said.

“We have to accept the fact that the State of Tamil Nadu is working for the Tamil Community’s welfare. We know an election is to be held in India in the near future and Tamil Nadu is raising its concerns,” the Minister said.

Steps taken by the Tamil Nadu Police to remove all LTTE flags during the protest at Rameshwaram held in support of the displaced persons in Sri Lanka was a positive move.

The same move proves that Tamil Nadu accepted that the LTTE is a banned terrorist organisation and it clearly showed that there is no place for pro-LTTE groups in the State. There is no pressure from the Indian Government against the Forces’ humanitarian operations to eradicate LTTE terrorism.

The Foreign Minister in response to a question by Vijitha Herath said the Government is awaiting for the proposals of the All Party Conference.

In his answer to a question raised by Weerawansa, Minister Bogollagama said, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka.

The Minister stressed that Senior Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa’s visit to New Delhi to discuss this matter in detail will be helpful.

The Minister speaking further said that President Rajapaksa had assured the Indian Prime Minister that the Government of Sri Lanka is taking all measures for the welfare and the safety of the civilians displaced, particularly in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts. He highlighted the strong bonds of friendship and trust that the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration has forged with India, as a manifestation of the longstanding and historical ties between Sri Lanka & India.

He emphasized that India and Sri Lanka are maintaining a sustained and cordial dialogue at a very high political level.

The Minister categorically emphasized that the Government has not faced any kind of external pressure from any quarter regarding the operations by the security forces to defeat terrorism and disarm the LTTE. “No interference, no influence, no dictation from any country in the world to Sri Lanka’s agenda in countering terrorism”.