Revive image of SL

26 August 2011 04:30 pm Views - 4713

External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatileka Amunugama today said that Sri Lanka’s fight with the international community is a bigger challenge than winning the 30 year war as the government had to deal with millions of people, billions of resources, big governments and large international media organisations, which he said was a difficult task.
 
He said this was a challenge for a small country such as Sri Lanka. The Secretary called on the public to use internet, print publications, the arts and other means of disseminating information to the international community to revive the country’s image which has been tarnished by allegations of war crimes.
 
Addressing the launch of a book on the Sri Lanka war titled ‘Winning an Unwinnable War’, by J.F. Ranjith Perera, Amunugama said people should use email, social networking sites such as facebook, youtube, the publication of books and other written material in order to have documented evidence of the war period in Sri Lanka.
 
He said although it was unknown to the public, the government was working strenuously behind the scenes to win the support of the international community. “We don’t expose most of what is happening to the public eye but we will win the war with the international community,” he said.
 
“The international community is downplaying what we have achieved in winning the war or are accusing us of violating human rights.
Documented information on the country during the war should be made available to the international community. This will help change their mind sets about Sri Lanka and the war crimes allegations levelled against the country,” Chief of Staff Major General Daya Ratnayake who also addressed the occasion said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)