SL for dealing with only Indian Centre on bilateral issues

*Ties between two neighbours strong as ever

*Govt prepared to go beyond 13th A

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Cabinet Spokesman cum Media and Information Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella told the media yesterday that Sri Lanka always dealt with India on a government to government basis on all matters concerning the two countries.

The minister noted that Sri Lanka as a sovereign nation would respond only to the central governmrnt of India. The minister was responding to questions raised by journalists on the government’s response to Tamil nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jeyaram’s call to the Indian central government to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the media during the weekly press briefing to announce Cabinet decisions, the minister stressed that there was no strain in the relationship between the two countries.

In fact, he said that the friendly ties existing between the two neighbours over a long period were as strong as ever.

He noted that a continuous dialogue would help to solve common issues concerning both countries which would arise from time to time.

Although different political issues may arise in both the countries from time to time, the important thing is to engage in a dialogue on the basis of mutual trust and understanding to solve the issues, he added.

Answering queries on devolving powers to the provinces under the 13th amendment the minister noted that the government’s position in this regard had been always very clear. We are even for 13 plus the minister said, indicating that the government was even prepared to go beyond the 13th amendment.

However the minister said that the extent of devolving political powers, specially police powers, should be designed after taking into consideration the needs of all relevant parties. He said that discussions in this regards were ongoing.

He also noted Sri Lanka had overcome the major issue of the armed conflict. “Now we all reap the benefits and enjoy the dividends of peace” he added.