Rajapaksa rejects charges of rights violation

Colombo, Oct 5 (UNI) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has strongly rejected accusations of human rights violations and disappearances against the country.

Sri Lanka had wrongly been presented at the world arena as a murderous and failed state, he said.

Speaking at the National 'Wap Magul' ceremony, the traditional beginning of the paddy cultivation season, he called for a collective action to ensure that rights of the minority Tamils were not violated, Asian Tribune reported.

''Although we may belong to different political parties, religions and communities, we share the responsibility of developing this country, '' he said and urged the leaders of all political parties to join hands and solve the national issues.

''The country was still repaying the debts incurred on the import of wheat flour in the 1960s and 70s.'' Such dependence on imports for food needed to change, and both the cultivator and consumer should be protected, he stressed.

It was necessary for the country to have a self-sufficient economy. The government was eager to go ahead with the development work, while it carried out the battle against terrorism, Mr Rajapaksa said.

UNI