Aid commitments to Sri Lanka intact - Media and Information Minister

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: Refuting allegations of opposition political parties and sections of the media, Media and Information Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena asserted that there has not been any drop in foreign aid and assistance to the Government.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department in Narahenpita yesterday, Abeywardena in response to a query from a journalist, pointed out that all allegations pertaining to a decline in aid, were unfounded and based on hearsay as against official statements originating from the proper, official and diplomatic channels of the countries concerned.

“There is absolutely no problem in the sphere of foreign aid and assistance to the Government as alleged by certain parties with vested interests” he said.

He said Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi during his recent visit to the island had assured that there would not be any curtailment of Japanese assistance pledged for Sri Lanka.

The Indian Government too is highly impressed and in favour of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which the Sri Lanka Government intends to implement via the APRC proposals. “Furthermore, for the first time we had opened a diplomatic mission in Palestine recently, after over 50years, and thereby opened a gateway for enhanced business and trade links with the Middle East,” he said .

The first batch of Palestinian tourists have just arrived in the country and more are expected in the future. “Therefore, based on all these recent developments, the Government is confident that there is no imminent danger whatsoever,” he added.

Minister Abeywardena also pointed out that the environment to hold a fair and free election in the East, is by no means unsatisfactory in comparison to the environment which had prevailed in other parts of the country during similar periods, including the South.

“The least number of complaints have been reported in the run-up to the elections in the East to-date, comparatively with the elections of the past,” he added.

In reply to a question on the Commission Report headed by Nimal Siripala de Silva, on the incident relating to Minister Mervyn Silva’s entry to the Rupavahini Corporation, Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena stated that two independent inquiries were being carried out on the incident. Nimal Siripala De Silva’s report would be out by next week.

Investigations are also being carried out on the laxity in security as over 300 outsiders not belonging to the Corporation staff, had been within the Rupavahini premises at the time of the said incident.

“This was certainly a lapse in security. Such a situation could have well been avoided in a crucial national institution as the Rupavahini Corporation. Such a situation should not arise again in the future,” he stressed.