Inquiry Panel: No change in Sri Lanka’s stance – Minister
Duminda GURUGE and Swarna WIJEKONE
There is no change of the stance taken by the Government on the
committee of experts appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,
Media and Information Minister and Cabinet spokesman Keheliya
Rambukwella said.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Media Ministry
Auditorium, Colombo, yesterday he said appropriate protests about the
committee have been made by the Government and friendly nations have
been briefed about the objection to the committee.
“As a sovereign State we have lodged our protest and we have also
discussed this matter with friendly UN member nations. The Secretary
General’s decision to appoint this committee had been made without the
United Nations Security Council’s approval. And the view of friendly
nations consulted by the Government was that such committees cannot be
appointed by the Secretary General without Security Council’s approval.”
The Minister said whatever proposals or decisions made by officials they
could be implemented only by the Security Council.
“It will have to be put for vote in the Security Council before it
could be implemented and in this matter we have the cooperation of
friendly member nations of the Security Council,” the Minister said
Answering a query whether the 17th Amendment to the Constitution has
drawn international attention, he said the amendment was purely an
internal affair of the country that need not be taken up before the
international community.
Government Information Director General Prof Ariyarathna Athugala and
Director Development Media Centre Ariya Rubasinghe were also present. |