President cautions Parliament:
Attempt to revive terrorism
*N-E development priority in finding political solution
*Close link between some Budget criticisms and London protest
*Defence expenditure an investment
Sinister moves to create division within Security Forces
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing Parliament yesterday said that
the Government has received information that sinister moves were
underway to create clashes among the Security Forces.
Delivering the winding up speech of the Committee Stage Debate on the
Budget 2011, the President said “we have received information that there
are conspiracies to divide the Security Forces create suspicion against
each other.” The President also warned that this conspirators should not
be allowed to achieve their aim which would lead the country towards
conflict.
The opinions of some who oppose this Budget and the terrorist
conspiracy that supported the Oxford Union speech are closely inter-
related, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing Parliament at the
end of the Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation Bill 2011
yesterday.
This exposed a delicate attempt through the Budget debate to revive
terrorism in the country, he said.
Certain speakers participating in the debate said that no money has
been allocated for the development of the North.
The Government has given priority to the development of the North and
the East, said the President.
Development is also a priority in our endeavour to find a political
solution that would unite the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities, he
added.
President Rajapaksa explained that every Ministry has allocated funds
for Northern development.
Another attempt that is being carried out at present, according to
the President, is a move to degrade our judiciary and allow foreign
judicial organs to interfere in the legal system of the country.
The Government considers it important to strengthen our judiciary and
its independence, the President said.
Replying to those who criticize the allocations to the Defence
Ministry as being excessive, President Rajapaksa said defence
expenditure should be seen as an investment that guarantees national
security.
“Our land territory maritime and air space have to be strategically
defended for which we have to spend in future too,” he said. “We also
have to strengthen our peace keeping missions abroad as well as
developing the capabilities of our security forces to make it the most
disciplined army in the world. By doing so we would be giving priority
to strengthen our investment environment.”
“Therefore, whatever others say a Government will not hesitate to
manage defence expenditure to suit our requirements. It should be
understood as an investment against the resurgence to the most dreadful
terrorism that arose in the country,” he said. |