Obama remarks make it easier to respond to Darusman report - Minister

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

"Those who live by the sword die by the sword is a well known saying and that is what happened to Osama bin Laden. The death of bin Laden became an irony of fate to the persons and organizations who supported terrorism, LTTE and separatism," Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

"It is a good lesson for all elements which try to create trouble for a small country which suffered from terrorism for 30 years, totally eradicated it and is now trying to stand up as one nation. Sri Lanka is on its way to finding out a durable political solution and that is why it is conducting discussions with the TNA," the minister said.

Addressing the weekly SLFP press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre, Colombo, Minister de Silva said that although the UN Secretary stated that there is no way of doing anything further more in connection with the controversial Darusman Report, Sri Lanka will study it well and take required action.

"The whole process cannot be declared and announced in media at the moment because giving publicity is not appropriate now. Sri Lanka will not act against the UN since it is part of the UN. Sri Lanka accepts and respects the UN," de Silva said.

Minister de Silva said that the government is working at all levels to prevent local and foreign elements from destroying the country's stability.

"The government is now in the process of responding to the `Darusman Report' in a responsible and serious manner. All steps will be taken to stop certain elements from using this report to make Sri Lanka unstable and promote separatist ideas. With the response dark shadows of terrorism will fade forever. The government takes full responsibility of protecting Sri Lanka, and the reputation of the motherland. Nobody should worry about that," de Silva said.

"Replying to this report is now easier than ever with the latest development in connection with the killing of Osama bin Laden. A good reply has been given to the Darusman Report by the mechanism implemented by the US State Department in connection with bin Laden. It is easy to reply to this Report when considering the latest guidelines on international terrorism presented by US President Barak Obama a few days ago," he said.