‘Elements with vested interests trying to misinterpret President’s remarks’

Certain elements with vested interests were trying to misinterpret President Maithripala Sirisena’s recent remarks about the role played by certain independent commissions, for petty political gain, Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

He identified this as an attempt to tarnish the image of the President internationally.

Speaking at a public function in Kalutara yesterday, the minister said the President had not found fault with the Commissions but had only emphasised the importance of protecting the dignity of war heroes who saved the country from the clutches of terrorism.

The minister emphasised that the President’s speech had not included any remarks intended to weaken the functions of the independent commissions.

The minister also recalled the strenuous efforts made by the President to bring in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which resulted in the formation of the independent commissions.

He stressed that both the President and the Prime Minister were working together with the common aim of ushering political, economic and social stability.

Samarasinghe said the new government led by the President continuously keeps enhancing its international image which had seen a rapid decline during the time of the former regime.

In the face of this success, he said that some political elements with vested interests were trying to misinterpret the President’s recent remarks to tarnish the image of the President and that of the government, internationally.