The government said that it will relax the Emergency Regulations gradually and considering to lift the regulations by the end 2011.
The Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella addressing the weekly cabinet briefing said the government took the decision not due to the pressure came from outside but due to the improving security situation in the country.
Phasing out and the lifting of the emergency had nothing to do with the pressure exerted by any outside powers as the security and administration of Sri Lanka is entirely a domestic responsibility of the government.
Commenting on last Thursday’s US House Foreign Relations Committee resolution to ban development aid unless Sri Lanka lift emergency regulations, he said the government decision on relaxing emergency regulations was not due to the US decision.