Not under Indian pressure - MR

28 June 2011 09:10 am - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday denied that he had come under pressure from India to offer the minority Tamils a political solution, saying that any settlement to the matter will have to be approved by Parliament.

"There was no pressure from India on the thirteenth amendment of thirteen plus," Rajapaksa told reporters.

Responding to a query on the visit by Indian National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, he said the Indians had only discussed with him routine bilateral issues.

The Indian officials visited Colombo early this month in the backdrop of a call by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa said Menon had indicated to him the proposal made by his own Cabinet minister Douglas Devananda on the need for Sri Lankan parliament to
thrash out the question of a political solution to the island's ethnic question.

He said appointing a parliamentary select committee on the ethnic question was not a delaying tactic. "Any solution that comes up will have to be approved in parliament," the president said. "I will back any solution approved by parliament".

"While having talks with political parties (with Tamil National Alliance) we can have PSC talks at the same time. If we wait for political party talks to end and then have PSC discussions, this will cause delays," he said. The president said the election for the northern provincial council will be held "next year".

He wanted the parties to start preparing for the polls which will be the first ever for the council since separated from the east in the supreme court ordered demerger of 2007.

On the present international campaign against Sri Lanka by the UN and other western nations, he said it was to be countered by submitting two separate reports. They will deal with the humanitarian nature of the government s military campaign that ended in May 2009 and the military aspects of it.

External Affairs Minister GL Peiris, who was also present, said that not all countries were opposed to Sri Lanka despite the UN special panel report which accused Colombo of war crimes. (PTI)

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Comments - 24

Rajeev Patnaik Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:06 AM

It is some thing amazing about the involvement of Douglas for a political solution.The minister is on run and he is needed in the murder cases at Madras High Court. He should resign and face the court of justice to clear his name.Then he can talk about Tamil Solution.Himself is a problem for the Tamils. Unfortunately such kind of elements with shady characters have proximity to the President..This is the main cause for the country's reputation before and after the war.

ranfer Wednesday, 29 June 2011 03:49 AM

All politics... India playing their politics, Sri Lanka playing their politics. End of the day general people suffer. All politicians win. All people lose.

karu Wednesday, 29 June 2011 03:26 AM

Bed time stories daily........

Tonto Wednesday, 29 June 2011 03:19 AM

MR and his cohoots have never been under pressure. You can see it in their cosmetic grins plastered all over the country.

New Tuesday, 28 June 2011 04:20 PM

What is pressure anyway when people in Sri Lanka are struggling to last straw to hang on their day to day life except for rich and pilthy

NAKKIRAN Tuesday, 28 June 2011 12:06 PM

WHAT HAPPEND LTTE, SAME TO YOU, NO MORE WAY
WILL HAVE TO BE APPRROVED BY ICC

Bumba Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:38 AM

You are under pressure from all ends Internationally. Keep playing to the masses in the south of Sri Lanka and be happy.

Ohea Yang Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:33 AM

This is what Ranil Wickremesinghe told a decade back, thus the ethnic problem can only be solved by negotiations not by wars...Now MR realises the fact that with a War Victory we can't bring peace to this country.....It's not a matter of defeating LTTE.....it's a matter of bringing happiness to lives in North & East....It's a matter of creating opportunities for living, doing a job, built a house, enjoy whatever sinhalese and other community enjoy here in western province....

Javi Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:30 AM

Now India is under world pressure because of you! but you say......

pop up Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:17 AM

Yep v can survive only on others sympathy... We have to depend on other countries for our survival... Our economy is wholly dependent on the west... we import all essential items..so how can we say that we don't have any pressure...sorry Mr. President , we all have to accept certain truth.....Truth is bitter...

cracko Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:13 AM

You are bluffing on the Tamil issue since you were elected. Never mind Indian pressure or Chinese friendship, tell us clearly and openly whether YOU REALLY WANT to let Tamils have a good life in SL?

SL Lover Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:07 AM

Who let's the dogs out..!!!!

willows Tuesday, 28 June 2011 09:19 AM

why only this one has to go to the parliament, when all the others were passed without any debate even???

FRANNY Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:01 AM

THAT IS WHAT IS SAID BUT WHO KNOWS !!!

jo Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:51 AM

yeah we don't act on under pressure.. we always act on others sympathy...like China, India , Pakistan, Russia, etc..

Minister Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:55 AM

But Sir, Dewananda is wanted man by Chennai courts!

Minister Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:47 AM

We as peoeple of Sri Lanka reject any external pressure. But you are pressurised by the people of this country for good governance.

PKR Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:50 AM

Mr President, 2 years ago India, UK, US and Europe and whole world tried to put you underpressrue. However, you did not capitulate to such and annihilated Prabakaran and LTTE.
In fact now UNP, JVP and INGOs are under pressure from overseas donors and white masters to put pressure on srilanka.
Contry loving general public will support you upto the hilt.
Simply carry out what is good for our motherland. Lets these jokers who funded by their western masters dance on the floor.

modaya Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:36 AM

or else, you are under influence of liqour

malkanthi Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:36 AM

But you seem under pressure. Calm down, we are with you, besides you have not done anything unlawful, until there is solid evidence.

jayalalitha Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:33 AM

Wait ! Wait ! Indian pressure is on its way.

I Husssein Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:18 AM

Indian pressure or not (we know that you are controlled by them in any case) do something good for the suffering people. They have suffered enough from variouse movements specially under LTTE. There must be a fullstop to this differences that we practice even now. All people need is actions not big talks. I dont think your govt can deliver the (its like a mixed pickle) good to the right people.

Nihal Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:07 AM

Whether Indian deligates visited here for site seen

UK TAMIL BOY Tuesday, 28 June 2011 09:56 AM

Ha.....ha.......ayyo .....ayyo.

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Not under Indian pressure - MR

Comments - 24

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