Tuesday, 14 August 2007

After being very much transparent and facilitating visits by representatives of international bodies and countries, the Sri Lankan Government cannot afford to be sandwiched between disagreements of international organizations, Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today (14) with reference to different allegations thrown at Sri Lanka by international organizations and their contradictory positions.

At the weekly press briefing held on current security situations of the country Minister Rambukwella reiterated the matter on the comment made by International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) on the investigations of seventeen aid workers killing in Muttur and the preliminary version of the Australian Forensic Pathologist Dr. M.J. Dodd on the same.
ICJ commented that during the investigations carried on this killing shifting of material of evidence has taken place, based on Dr. Dodd’s forensic analysis report. Dr. Dodd later on stated that the conclusion in the final reports was a mistake done by him.

“It is a serious allegation against the Government of Sri Lanka. And in the end Dr. Dodd denied that he made such comments,” Minister added expressing Government’s displeasure over such contradictions after the transparency and positive reception extended to representatives of foreign humanitarian agencies.

Considering the contradictory comments of the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordination Sir John Holmes, Minister Rambukwella said, “On Monday (06) during the meeting held at the Foreign Ministry and at the press briefing held on Thursday (09) Holmes did not mention what he said on Wednesday to Reuters”. UN chief of relief work commented to Reuters news agency on late Wednesday (09) that Sri Lanka is one of the worst places for aid workers to carry out missions.

He further stated that giving such false and contradicting comments the International Organizations bring discredit to the country and it could be equated to LTTE propaganda.

Commenting on 34 aid workers killed as claimed by the UN relief chief Holmes, Minister said apart from the reports available on those killings of seventeen aid workers of the French NGO and two of a Danish demining agency the Government needs rest of the details if 15 others were also killed as Sir John alleged. He said Sir John would have been able to collect the details of the other fifteen workers killed and Government needs to know as they are also Sri Lankans and it is also Government’s duty to probe in to the matter.

“When it comes to safeguarding citizens, safeguarding aid workers, we, as the Government are duty bound to provide. Government has taken every possible step to ensure the safety of its people,” Minister emphasised.