President wants...
Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters at the weekly SLFP news briefing that the debate and voting of the Bill had been postponed indefinitely.
President Sirisena wants to study the provisions of the Bill thoroughly, subject to a public debate and amend it if necessary before presenting it in Parliament, he added.
President Sirisena has on numerous occasions categorically said that he would never betray war heroes or do anything or take any action inimical to the interests of the people, country or the religion and it is final, Minister Samarasinghe emphasized.
President Sirisena is a leader who feels the pulse of the people. He never takes a decision detrimental to the aspirations and welfare of the people. Take any issue which was highlighted in the media recently like Uma Oya, SAITM, floods and landslides or solid waste problem. He gave the best solution after listening to all stakeholders to the issue which was accepted by all
Minister Samarasinghe said 93 countries had already signed the ‘International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance’ and only Sri Lanka, India and Maldives signed it from South Asia. To bring it to the statute book, a country must first sign it, ratify and then pass it in Parliament. A number of big and powerful countries were still to sign it and therefore, Sri Lanka has no reason to rush it through parliament and enact it, he said.
“President Sirisena is a leader who feels the pulse of the people. He never takes a decision detrimental to the aspirations and welfare of the people. Take any issue which was highlighted in the media recently like Uma Oya, SAITM, floods and landslides or solid waste problem. He gave the best solution after listening to all stakeholders to the issue which was accepted by all,” Minister Samarasinghe added.
Minister Samarasinghe said the entire country was aware that there would be no white vans to abduct those who criticized the government, no firing at protesters, no suppression on the media and telephone calls to judges in the dead of night. It is sad to note that a majority of media institutions are biased against the government and were very reluctant to give due publicity for good work done by the government. Media institutions think they can attract listeners, viewers and readers only by attacking the government in full force whether the contents in the news items are correct or not.
“But it is sad to see that the media, people, students, trade unions and politicians while enjoying the new found freedom in full without fear or favour, make extremely unfair and vituperative comments on the government, President and Prime Minister. Most of them are canards, fabrications and utter lies,” he stressed.
One must not think for a moment that the failure to take action against those who spread misinformation and insult government leaders is a weakness of the government, Minister Samarasinghe stressed. Minister Samarasinghe said Sri Lanka signed the ‘International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance’ on December 10, 2015 and ratified it on May 25, 2016.