It was just this week Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that only the Parliamentary Select Committee would decide on devolution, dismissing India's external affairs secretary, SM Krishna's statement that 13+ changes had been promised by Sri Lanka.
On Thursday his words were:
"The PSC, in which all parties in parliament would be represented, was the best forum to discuss and take a decision on the matter.”
“I cannot reveal it. If I say anything on it, people will say, I am biased. Let parliament decide. I’ll accept its recommendations.”
Yet speaking Saturday, at celebrations for what Sri Lankans commemorate as their independence day, Rajapaksa revealed his devolutionary vision and his guiding light:
"Ethnic communities have no separate regions. The entire country belongs to all ethnic communities."
"what is required today is the formulation of policies based on a vision that is commonly applicable to the whole country."
"The words of the Buddha show the path we should take and how we should solve problems.
Akkodhena jine kodham – asadhum sadhuna jine
Jine kadariyam danena – saccena alikavadinam"Let this thought guide all in making the freedom of our motherland meaningful!"
See here for speech in full.
Extracts reproduced below:
"Conspiracies and propaganda of terrorists based overseas have not abated still. When such things happen abroad some people here do various things to destabilize the Motherland. They expect to achieve in Sri Lanka certain results that happened in some countries of the world. Both these groups are one. Fuel and nutrition for this struggle in Sri Lanka are received from separatism active in foreign lands."
"We are engaged in the task of creating a stable peace and national unity after liberating the country from terrorism. This is not a task confined to one individual or a party."
"Remember, the country would not benefit by trying to please selfish groups who receive foreign funds. Similarly solutions cannot be obtained by implementing the proposals of extremist groups of whatever persuasion. What is required today is the formulation of policies based on a vision that is commonly applicable to the whole country."
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