March 09, 2010: Forces which do not respect the independence and the unitary nature of the country continue to operate even today, says Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.
Tabling the motion to extend the state of emergency by one month, the premier noted that those forces sought to disrupt the country's independence by raising questions with regard to how human rights were protected.
“The government is of the view that cordial relations must be maintained with the international community,” said the Prime Minister.
“The country is not governed by another, nor is it a colony of a powerful country,” he declared and added that however, at a time when the nation was being divided over narrow objectives, forces were uniting against the motherland, the prime minister observed.
Opening the debate, Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said that the state of emergency was being used to protect thugs.
“The Ports Authority employees and teachers have been transferred while the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption remains inactive,” said Mr. Perera.
“The United National Party will vote against the motion to extend the state of emergency and that the security of the MPs should be guaranteed,” he said.
Joining the debate, Minister D. M. Jayaratne reiterated the importance of the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti questioned as to whether detention camps were being formed with the use of emergency regulations.
He added that the prime minister should respond to the query.
The MP charged that police was helpless at the moment.
He went on to say that even some members of the government could not engage in politics in a fair manner.
