The Sri Lankan defence secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse claims that foreign and local elements are attempting to use the judiciary to destabilise the country.

Speaking at an exhibition in Kurunegala, Gota said that a conspiracy was being hatched abroad to topple his brother and president, Mahinda Rajapakse.

Gothabaya Rajapakse and Kandyan tribal dancers at the exhibition

He said that an attempt to use university teachers and students to cause unrest had failed.

“When carrying out his work the President has been faced with various challenges. Everyone knows that school children, university students, university lecturers and trade unions were used to create trouble. But because of the confidence the people had in the President the trouble makers could not achieve their goal. Today they are attempting to do it through the judiciary.

"They want to destabilise this country. We know that peace and stability is vital if a country is to develop and for tourists and investors to come here,”

Gota also stressed the importance of self-sufficiency in food, saying it is sad that goods that can be produced in Sri Lanka are imported.

“Many consumer goods that can be produced locally are imported in large quantities. Although it is hard to believe, even tamarind is imported. It is sad that we import food crops that grow well in the country. If we are self-sufficient in food, the colossal expenditure on imports can be curtailed to the barest minimum.

"The foreign exchange savings can be used for development programmes. The government provided incentives including fertiliser subsidy to the farmers regardless of the war expenditure. The most formidable challenge facing many countries is the want of food security. A country with food security will never collapse.

"Foreign elements attempted to pose a challenge to the government through the university teachers and the students, but failed. Now they are attempting to gain their end through the judiciary.”

See full address here (Singhalese).