Presented in connivance with some powerful countries:

UNHRC chief’s latest report baseless – President

by Chaminda Perera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay ‘s latest report on Sri Lanka contained baseless material. He said that the UN High Commissioner demanded an international investigation against Sri Lanka soon after terrorism was eradicated from the country.

He said that the Government is not perturbed by her latest report on Sri Lanka based on wrong information.

The President said that the UN High Commissioner in connivance with a handful of powerful countries had presented this report. The government is not worried about her latest report on Sri Lanka as the Government had ensured the people’s right to live in any part of the country.

President Rajapaksa was responding to questions from Temple Trees raised by the public on the Janapathi Janahamuwa program telecast live last Friday.

The program was telecast from Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Matara, Galle and Hambantota.

“We have created an atmosphere where people of all communities can live in any part of the country without fear.

This is the most important human right that a person can have in the world,” he said.

The President said that the Government had succeeded in rehabilitating former hardcore LTTE cadres within a few months and they were being reintegrated into mainstream society.

“We provided all facilities to people who were displaced due to LTTE atrocities in the North and the East.”

He said the Government had spent Rs. 4 billion to develop the Northern Province and all basic amenities such as pipe-borne water, electricity and houses were provided to them.

Responding to a question from a member of the public, the President said that the government had made every endeavour to wipe out the drug menace.

“We have filed action against 150,000 people involved in drug-related offences,” he said.

He also sought public assistance to wipe out the menace completely.