Basil’s visit to India stirs PNC’s ire

By Abeeth Sarathchandra
Patriotic National Front (PNC) yesterday criticised Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa’s controversial visit to India. Convener of the PNC Dhambara Amila Thero said that the declarations made during this visit shows that the Government has bowed down to the Indian wishes.

“Basil Rajapaksa, acting as President’s envoy, has made a statement saying that the Sri Lankan Government is in the process of initiating a procedure to distribute power provincially,” said Dhambara Amila thero, addressing a press conference. “The Indian Government has also requested that the Sri Lankan Government adheres to the 13th constitutional amendment as a start to the devolution of power. So Basil Rajapaksa’s statement only shows that they have bowed down to Indian wishes,” he added.

Amila thero emphasised the fact that international forces, both western and eastern forces, were applying unnecessary force on the SL Government, to suspend the successful military operation against the LTTE.

“The people of this country have shown their disapproval of the LTTE throughout the last two elections. They placed massive trust on the Government to do what it promised, that is, defeat the LTTE militarily, and now it looks as if the promises are being broken,” Dhambara Amila thero said.

He added that the Government should come out with whatever hidden agendas they have, and inform the public about them before it’s too late.

“The American ambassador for Sri Lanka, Robert O. Blake has also made some erroneous statements regarding the current situation in Sri Lanka,” Dhambara Amila thero added, voicing the concerns of the PNC about these statements that Blake had made at a prominent function in India. He criticised the statements, which directly disparaged the Government’s efforts to eliminate the LTTE. “Blake wants the Government to stop the military action and go for the Ceasefire,” Dhambara Amila Thero said, “We would like to see the authorities taking some kind of action to reprimand Robert O. Blake. He has simply no right whatsoever to go round making statements of this sort about the Sri Lankan government. We propose that the ambassador be expelled from the country if he continues this kind of misconduct.” Dhambara Amila thero added,” he added