Asst. Secretary Boucher concerns over protecting Sri Lankans from LTTE threats

At the discussions with the Ambassador Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, President Mahinda Rajapaksa explaining the prevailing security situation in Sri Lanka highlighted the importance of being vigilant in interest of National Security.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ambassador Richard Boucher held discussions this morning at the Temple Trees. Ambassador Boucher ends his three days visit in the island today (10).   

Further, President Rajapaksa, during the discussion on the SLFP proposals for Constitutional Reform, explained the rationale behind these proposals to the Ambassador.

President has stressed that the Government was doing best to ensure that there were no Human Rights violations and that all reports of Human Rights violations were looked in to. The US assistant secretary was also told the that the Government fully supports the work of the Ministry for Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission and the various other institutions and commissions of inquiry set up to probe any violations of Human Rights and take remedial measures, Presidential Secretariat press release states.

Ambassador Boucher was on a visit from 08 May till 10 May in Sri Lanka, holding important discussions and meetings with Government as well as the Civil Society representatives, both in Colombo and Jaffna, on the peace process, humanitarian issues, human rights and many related issues pertaining in the country.

Speaking to the Colombo based media this evening Ambassador Boucher stressed that the US Government have clearly recognized that Sri Lankans continue to face the threat of the Tamil Tigers. He added that the State Government is closely monitoring what is happening in Sri Lanka and has a lot of concern over several prospects.

“The international community is taking action to conscript the flow of money, arms to the Tamil Tigers as we are against terrorism and to assist Sri Lankans in their fight against terrorism. And also we recognize that it is similarly important to go forward towards peace, towards justice for the people of Sri Lanka,” Ambassador Boucher added mentioning that in USA, Canada, Australia, France and  Tamil Nadu have legally taken up cases against these terrorists and their activities.

Ambassador Boucher welcoming the fact of many proposals from many political parties being forwarded to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) said it is a very important endeavour for all the parties to cooperate. Referring to the APRC he added that this kind of consensus is important to give the whole Tamil community a recognized position.

Answering to a query on the position USA stand on the LTTE air fighter capability Ambassador added that USA is against it and believes that the Sri Lankan Government has the right to protect the people of the country by stopping these LTTE air attacks.