http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/03/13/news30.asp


SL must speak with one voice to repulse hostile forces’
Rasika Somarathna
To combat external forces working against her, Sri Lanka must speak with one
voice, instead of being weakened and divided by petty considerations, expert
speakers pointed out during an awareness seminar on the international influences
and challenges to Sri Lanka, held yesterday.
Acting Minister of Media and Information Lakshman Yapa
Abeywardena, expert on International Affairs Mohan Samaranayake, Attroney-at-law
Gomin Dayasri and others at the awareness seminar. Picture by Sumanachandra
Ariyawansa
The innaugural event in a series of public seminars was held at the Sri Lanka
Foundation Institute auditorium with, Acting Minister of Media and Information
Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena in the chair. The seminars are jointly organized by
the Government Information Department and the SLFI.
Veteran media personality, an expert on international affairs, Mohan
Samaranayake and Attroney-at-law Gomin Dayasri, delivered the key lectures.
Samaranayake speaking on the occasion welcomed the seminars and called them
as an eye opener for the public, media and all stakeholders in identifying the
true situationof the international influences and its challenges to Sri Lanka.
Speaking on the topic ‘Identifying the international forces against Sri
Lanka’ he said that malicious critics of Sri Lanka need to be resoundingly
rebuffed with expert precision while winning support for the country worldwide
must continue in a very vibrant manner.
Attempts by external forces to influence the course of the country’s battle
against terrorism was a systematic process over a long period, Samaranayake
pointed out with a series of examples.
He said that the resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human
Rights Council was the culmination of such attempts which continued even after
Sri Lanka had successfully won the unwinnable war (as many had described it
earlier) to eliminate terrorism.
He said that the country was being pressurized needlessly by some sections of
the international community, whose track records as regards issues, such as,
human rights protection among many others, would not stand up to scrutiny at
all.
He pointed out to incidents such as attacks on Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Serbia etc, where millions of people had died and questioned the true motives
behind these attacks.
He also questioned whether any Western country had voiced concern about the
plight of millions of people in
Palestine. He said that there was a school of thought that some powerful
countries were of the view that forces potentially hostile to the system should
be fragmented to safegurad their rapidly declining economic strongholds.
Attorney-at-law Gomin Dayasiri speaking on the occasion said Sri Lanka should
stand united to ward off attempts by sections of the West to subject her to
discriminatory treatment.
He also stated that attempts by the mighty of the world to steadily undermine
the foundations of global justice should not be allowed.The senior Lawyer
referring to the resolution brought before the UNHRC, noted that Sri Lanka does
not need any external intervention to solve her affairs.
He pointed out to the report by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission and said that it has been widely accepted both locally and
internationally.
The government should implement recommendations which are beneficial to the
country at the soonest possible within its own set time frame, withot succumbing
to international pressure, he added.
He also praised LLRC recommendations which call for devolution of power to
the grassroots level and said that if properly implemented this could heal many
ills.
Minister Yapa and SLFI chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara also spoke briefly.
Government Information Department Head Prof. Ariyaratne Atugala, journalists
from both electronic and print media and general public were present.