Preserving country's sovereignty, govt's top priority _ Keheliya
Disna Mudalige
The highest priority of the government is to cater to the needs of
the country and its people, Mass Media and Information Minister and
Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
The minister said the government's main concern is to maintain the
country's sovereignty and democratic traditions.
He said as a policy, the government does not accept any foreign
intervention into internal matters of the country.
He made these comments responding to a question by a journalist at
the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry auditorium yesterday on the
statement made by UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navaneetham Pillay on
Sri Lanka on January 18.
The minister said the government has always given its priority to
where necessary.
He said as an independent nation, satisfying the needs of various
groups in the international arena is not the highest priority of the
government, adding that fair proposals extended by them would always be
considered and would be executed to that extent under the prevailing
context of the country.
Rambukwella said the government is ready to face any challenge
directed toward the country at the United Nations Human Rights
Commission (UNHRC) session in Geneva. He said the government is of the
view that it has made vast progress on the Human Rights sphere and has
taken effective action to implement the LLRC recommendations within the
time frame available.
The minister said there is no problem as at present over conducting
the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November
this year.
He said Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma expressed his
satisfaction over the preparations of the Sri Lankan government to host
this event.
The minister said despite the discouraging statements by Canada and
certain sections of the diaspora, the prevailing situation in this
regard is positive for the country.
Government Information Department Director General Prof Ariyaratne
Athugala also participated. |
