Torture chambers era no more - Azwer

Disna MUDALIGE

The country enjoys freedom, democracy and good governance under the present leadership. It draws inspirations from its own history and not from any other foreign country, said UPFA Parliamentarian A H M Azwer.

He said that it is a terrible mistake of the opposition to compare our country with the situation in Egypt or any other Middle Eastern country. Azwer said that the dark era of the country when torture chambers were maintained and prisoners were pulled out of the prisons and granted JP posts has passed long ago.

He was addressing the Third Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Asia Regional Conference at the Hilton Hotel yesterday. “Some Middle Eastern countries have not held elections for decades. Our President was elected by a free mandate of the people and this government was chosen according to the will of people in a number of free and fair elections.”

Under the Mahinda Chintana Sri Lanka is becoming the emerging wonder of of Asia.

In our path towards success we have combated foreign and local conspiracies which requested the IMF and World Bank not to offer loans for our development,” he said.

Azwer said that the President ordered to disburse Rs 33 billion for the facilitation of relief measures for the flood affected people since he is concerned about the plight of his countrymen.

”Programs such as Spring of North and Negenahira Navodaya are conducted to expedite development efforts. Mahinda Chintana also envisages a liquor and narcotics free country by the Mathata Thitha program.

Getting rid of terrorism was the main task we fulfilled to usher a brighter future to the country. This also created the necessary background to bring down the poverty level”, he said.

Azwer revealed that the Mahinda Chinthana policy is now internationalized and many foreign delegations were asking for a copy of it.

He noted that the free judiciary is ensured in the country and the President always respects the verdict of the court.

“Once a court order was given to remove all road blocks in Colombo.

The President adhered to the court order even though it could have been a massive blow to the security in the heart of Colombo. This shows his respect for the judiciary,” he said.