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President Rajapaksa said there was
a great need for a democratic political leadership and
proper democratic institutions and political structures
in the North and East, and the Government would take
all steps necessary to bring these to the North &
East.
"The Government has no interest
whatever in taking the country along the path of continued
conflict. No political leadership would what that,"
the President added.
Welcoming the media personnel for
the New Year the President had an exchange of views
with them on current political developments.
Media freedom
He assured them that the Government
gave the highest importance to safeguarding media freedom,
and there was no effort on the part of the Government
to have policies to oppress or curb the media, contrary
to some opinions being built against the Government.
The President urged the media persons
present to avoid using the media in ways that would
to endanger the defence of the state and national security,
and to avoid causing religious and communal strife in
the country. In the
present context he made a special request to those in
TV to act with
responsibility in handling what was a very powerful
media, so as not to
inflame the feelings of people, but to help foster good
relations and
understanding among people.
Answering questions President Rajapaksa
said the recent bomb attacks on
public transport showed the LTTE had gone back in its
earlier strategies,
and was once again trying its best to provoke racial
strife and ethnic
violence in the country. This was a direct result of
the setbacks faced by
them in the East.
President Rajapaksa said he saw no
reason whatever for a general election at
this stage. There were no problems with the functioning
of Parliament, and
an election would only be needed in the balance of forces
in Parliament
changes, he said.
He said a Cabinet shuffle was being
considered and would take place at the appropriate time.
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