Do They Have The Right To Come Down Hard Or Soft On Other Countries? – Minister Keheliya Ramb...

Following the recent visit to meet Pope Francis, the President told the Sri Lankans living in Italy that the government would not allow the international community to interfere into our domestic affairs and would solve our own problems.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the government has maintained the same position throughout.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

 

By Waruni Karunarathne

Q: Do you think there is a change in the way Sri Lanka is dealing with the international community?

A: Since the beginning, our position has been that we will solve our own problems. As a free and democratic country we can have our own process. In numerous occasions we have said that we need home grown solutions to our issues. We are quite aware of our problems more than anybody else. The international community probably has different interests that may not be suitable for our country but we have only one interest – that is based on the public of this country. It does not mean that we undermine the international community.

They can give us advice in good faith. However taking their advices or not is entirely up to Sri Lanka. Their advices cannot be forced down our throats. But their suggestions are welcome. Finally it is the Parliament of Sri Lanka or the public of Sri Lanka who has to make the decision.

 

Q: The US State Department has made a statement saying that they would continue to have a strong position on Sri Lanka. How does the government see this statement?

A:  I honestly do not understand what they mean by that. I do not know whether they have the right to come down hard or soft on other countries.

Do they have that right? That they should ask themselves.  We are a sovereign country.

 

Q: The British Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka has said that she was monitored when she visited the East recently. Is there any scenario in which people are still being monitored to serve certain purposes of the intelligence services?

A: We have no personal or private interest in monitoring or sending intelligence behind her as such.  In general our intelligence services go on routine basis. Not only in North and Eat but around the entire island there is an intelligence service operating in the country. There are intelligence services in any country in the world.

That is a democratic process. As far as we are concerned we are not monitoring individuals as such. I think monitoring is the wrong terminology.

The intelligence services work extends to keep track of drug peddlers, people who are anti-government undemocratically and those who conspire against the country. That is a normal process of any democratic society.

 

Q: The Media had recently protested alleging that they are being constantly targeted. What assurance can the government give to ensure that the media has the freedom to carry out their duties?

A: I do not think that is a media demonstration. If you look at the people who were involved in the protest, they are from Sirikotha and some of the members are from the UNP Working Committee and Executive Committee etc. It is a media parade by the UNP.

They are labelling it as a media demonstration. If you look at the newspapers, we feel that there is enough freedom to an extent to criticise the government – which is allowed in a democracy.

 

Q: Tamils in the North still feel insecure about their security and future. How does the government address their concerns?

A: We held the elections there. They have their own provincial administration. If they are concerned about their security of cause there are still landmines and so on. Other than that their life goes on as usual.  Some people locally and internationally have setup a target and they want the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime out.  Locally they have political agendas and internationally they have different agendas. It is evident that they are doing their best to bring the government down. But the public of this country will definitely resist that and will react to that.