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‘Unitary status needs to be maintained’ says Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena said Sri Lanka needs to maintain the “unitary status” of the island, at the opening of a new building at a defence university on Tuesday.

"Having assessed the bitter experiences the country had to undergo in the past few decades, if Sri Lanka were to overcome future challenges, the country's unitary status needs to be maintained," said Mr Sirisena.

His comments echo recent pledges made by a range of Sinhala parties who have spoken out against devolving power to the Tamil North-East, ahead of the general election later this month.

Mr Sirisena continued to say that the “knowledge we should earn for national security is unlimited”, according to the Ministry of Defence.

“The importance of the Kotelawala Defence University is invaluable when we consider about how to cope with the invasive strategies, effects and plans of powerful countries,” added the Sri Lankan president.

The new building at the Kotelawala Defence University consists of “16 lecture halls, computer labs, auditoriums, canteens and other facilities” and was built at a cost of Rs. 750 million.

Also see our earlier posts:

UNP will protect a united Sri Lanka – Minister (05 Aug 2015)

Sinhala opposition mounts against federal solution (04 August 2015)

Mahinda vows to leave no room for separatism (03 August 2015)

TNA using 'communal issues' to get votes - JVP (02 August 2015)

UPFA rejects any autonomy to Tamil regions beyond 13th amendment (01 August 2015)

Sri Lanka's cabinet rejects Tamil demands for federal power sharing solution (31 Jul 2015)

Sri Lankan election commissioner says candidates must affirm commitment to unitary state (30 Jul 2015) 

UNP coalition partner calls for on Tamils to ‘integrate’ with Sinhalese  (30 Jul 2015)

LSSP criticises TNA call for federalism  (30 Jul 2015)

Sinhala nationalist organisations rally against federalism  (30 Jul 2015)

'Everybody should consider this as a one country' says President in Kilinochchi  (29 Jul 2015)

UNP reiterates rejection of federal solution  (29 Jul 2015)

JVP slams TNA manifesto and opposes federalism  (29 Jul 2015)

UPFA election manifesto limits political solution to ethnic conflict to 13A  (28 Jul 2015)

SLMC reiterates desire to re-establish Tamil homeland by re-merging Northern and Eastern provinces  (28 Jul 2015)

Sri Lankan MP says TNA manifesto threatens country's sovereignty  (26 Jul 2015)

 

 

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