Statement by Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 18 February 2009
Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen,
As part of my regular briefings to the Diplomatic Corps, I have convened this meeting today in order to deal with two specific subjects; the North-Western and the Central Provincial Council elections, and the current situation in the North.
The Provincial Council elections which were held over the weekend, gave the government an overwhelming victory which is a clear indication of the public mood prevailing in the country today. The election result was never in doubt. It was indeed a referendum and an endorsement of the policies being followed by the government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and specifically, on the course of action being followed on eradicating terrorism. This is the third time that Provincial Council elections have been held since the election of the present government for five Provinces, all of which have been won by the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance.
