No Indian influence says govt

Disna MUDALIGE

There was no influence from the Indian government to lift the state of Emergency, said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Responding to a question from a journalist at the weekly Cabinet press briefing, the minister said that the decision was taken by the President on his own after a careful and lengthy study.

He said that the emergency regulations were lifted with immediate effect and the ordinary law is enforced in the country thereafter.

He said that no external power can pressurize the President or the government in decision making. The minister commenting on the efforts to find a permanent solution to the national problem said that the government has appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee to handle the problem in a more comprehensive manner.

"The ultimate solution should be acceptable to the majority of the people in the country. The Parliament is the best platform for this task, since all segments of the country are represented in it. The government is always ready for discussions with the TNA. This is a complex issue and it cannot be restricted with conditions," he said.

Minister Yapa said that the Cabinet also approved the appointment of 10 counsellors for the 10 senior ministers to assist them in their work and decision making since the senior ministers were given broader portfolios.