Sri Lanka against violating sovereignty of any country, President says

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa referring to the attacks on Libya by coalition forces says Sri Lanka cannot accept violating sovereignty of any country and it is against killing civilians.


"I always believe that the people are right, but no one should harm innocent citizens," President Rajapaksa said today during a meeting with foreign media correspondents today (28) at Temple Trees.


"We are not with anyone killing civilians and cannot accept the violation of the sovereignty of any country," President stressed responding to questions with regard to attacks on Libya by coalition forces.
During the discussion with the foreign scribes Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella has said that in some cases the coalition forces appeared to have gone beyond the mandate of the UNSC Resolution 1973.
Answering to the questions on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by him to probe the events and violations during the last seven years of war, the President said the Commission has not requested an extension of its mandate but if a request for extension is made it will be granted.
The Commission is to wrap up its public hearings soon and submit the report to the President in May.
The President said the three-member United Nations panel appointed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is welcome to come to Sri Lanka and give evidence to LLRC but they cannot conduct any investigations.
"There is an open invitation for UN officials, just as any others, to testify before the LLRC'.. But they can't do investigation. That's very clea'it's ruled out," the President asserted.
Sri Lanka vehemently opposed the appointment of the UN panel saying that it is unwarranted and unnecessary.
While international human right groups have urged the UN for an international inquiry on Sri Lanka's alleged human right and humanitarian law violations, Sri Lanka has told the UN to allow the domestic process to proceed and desist from intervening.
National Languages and Social Integration Senior Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Neomal Perera, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary, Ministry of Mass Media and Information, W.D.Ganegala were also present.