President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated today that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a prime opportunity for Sri Lanka as it assists the Commonwealth to discuss the common interests and priorities of the world.
The President says he will not hesitate to take action against any human rights violations adding that he has nothing to hide and is very open.
“We are very open, we have nothing to hide,” Rajapakse told reporters on the eve of the summit.
Rajapakse said he was ready to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss allegations of human rights violations in the closing stages of the conflict.
“I will be meeting him and we will see what, I will also have to ask some questions,” he said.
Rajapakse mounted a stout defence of his administration’s handling of allegations of rights abuses.
“We have a legal system in Sri Lanka,” he told a press conference. “We have a human rights commission, now the Commonwealth is ready to strengthen it.
“If anyone wants to complain about a human rights violation in Sri Lanka -- whether it be torture, whether it be rape -- we have a system.
“If there are any violations, we will take actions against anybody.”
He expressed that his policy was to win over terrorists while he is ready to listen to the Tamil diaspora as long as they are also willing to listen to the government.
He also expressed that he will not allow the country to be divided.
President Rajapaksa also expressed satisfaction over Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid attending the CHOGM summit.
“I am satisfied,” he told the press conference when asked whether he was satisfied with the level of Indian participation at the Commonwealth meet.
When an Indian reporter stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has skipped the conference in deference to public sentiments in Tamil Nadu, Rajapaksa shot back, “But he has not said this to me”.
The President noted that the Indian Prime Minister had not attended a previous summit in Perth two years ago. “The Foreign Minister is here. I am satisfied,” he said.
