Press is free, criticism is free - President

The press is free, criticism is free. The Opposition can even go to Brussels to do lobbying against the renewal by the European Union of the GSP + system, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Le Figaro, a leading French newspaper.

As for journalists disappearing, most of them reappear to claim visas in foreign consulates. We want to develop this country. We want to avoid any kind of discrimination against Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. We want western countries to help us, to trust us and stop listening to the LTTE propaganda.

France has been fairest than many other countries. It supported us in our fight against terrorism and never aligned itself on the LTTE, he said.

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