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<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;"> The British Prime Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting had conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of a Head of Government and would do well to practice what he preaches, said several intellectuals and professionals yesterday lashing out at the unacceptable conduct of British Prime Minister David Cameron during a major international event.<br /> Referring to his claims of human rights violations by Sri Lanka, University Grants Commission Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said: “We also know that the Prime Minister had several talks with other groups in the UK before his visit and may have had preconceived views on human rights and had incorrect information from that side about Sri Lanka. The fact that the British Premier visited Jaffna and was able to present his individual views while in Colombo, shows that there is freedom in Sri Lanka.”<br /> Kelaniya University Mass Communication Department Head Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said it was Lord Torrington who ordered the killing of innocent Buddhist monk, Venerable Kudapola who was executed dressed in full robes by a firing squad at the Court Martial in Kandy in 1848.<br /> “The monk was falsely accused of withholding information on the rebel leaders although there was not a shred of evidence to substantiate the charges. The then Attorney General strongly opposed the execution of the monk,” he said. “When considering the history and the human rights record of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Cameron has no right to ethically talk about other countries’ human rights issues. It took 40 years for the United Kingdom to release the report on the killing of 13 Northern Ireland civilians in 1972. Now, the leader of the same country is asking Sri Lanka to release the report on what happened during 30 years of war, within three or four months,” Prof. Piyadasa said.<br /> He pointed out that the British Prime Minister’s demand becomes more unjustified because Sri Lanka is in the process of rehabilitation and reconciliation.<br /> “Sri Lanka is now in the process of reviewing what happened during the past 30 years and taking action according to the country’s laws,” he said.<br /> Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara said Sri Lanka is no longer a colony of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is not an organisation that belongs to the UK.<br /> “It is another member state of the Commonwealth. Therefore David Cameron does not have a special privilege to request to have an investigation on the internal matters of Sri Lanka. It is completely an internal matter to be addressed internally as we too have the same system of governance guided by the constitution of Sri Lanka. Instead, what Cameron should have said was that the United Kingdom apologises to the entire Commonwealth nations for the brutality and injustice committed when those countries were colonies under the British Empire. He should have recalled how badly they violate women’s rights, human rights and religious rights in the UK,” he said.<br /> Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s conduct, Prof Gamini Samaranayake said that Cameron is only a member of CHOGM and he has no right to issue threats.<br /> “Sri Lanka is a sovereign independent country and not a British Colony anymore. Cameron has completely forgotten the imperial past of his country. Imperialism was a gross violation of human rights. The British democracy has been converted into British hypocrisy. Sri Lanka should not take Cameron’s statement seriously. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given the right to life, political rights and property rights to over 20 million people in Sri Lanka by ending 30 years of war under his leadership. The President believes that fulfilling the basic needs of the people such as providing drinking water facilities and solving the unemployment problem is more important than political theories. As Chairman of Commonwealth he will pay his full attention to ensure the basic needs of people living in the member states,” he said.<br /> - See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/local/cameron-lambasted#sthash.OchvDKZz.dpufThe British Prime Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting had conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of a Head of Government and would do well to practice what he preaches, said several intellectuals and professionals yesterday lashing out at the unacceptable conduct of British Prime Minister David Cameron during a major international event.The British Prime Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting had conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of a Head of Government and would do well to practice what he preaches, said several intellectuals and professionals yesterday lashing out at the unacceptable conduct of British Prime Minister DavThe British Prime Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting had conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of a Head of Government and would do well to practice what he preaches, said several intellectuals and professionals yesterday lashing out at the unacceptable conduct of British Prime Minister David Cameron during a major international event.</div> <div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;"> Referring to his claims of human rights violations by Sri Lanka, University Grants Commission Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said: “We also know that the Prime Minister had several talks with other groups in the UK before his visit and may have had preconceived views on human rights and had incorrect information from that side about Sri Lanka. The fact that the British Premier visited Jaffna and was able to present his individual views while in Colombo, shows that there is freedom in Sri Lanka.”<br /> Kelaniya University Mass Communication Department Head Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said it was Lord Torrington who ordered the killing of innocent Buddhist monk, Venerable Kudapola who was executed dressed in full robes by a firing squad at the Court Martial in Kandy in 1848.<br /> “The monk was falsely accused of withholding information on the rebel leaders although there was not a shred of evidence to substantiate the charges. The then Attorney General strongly opposed the execution of the monk,” he said. “When considering the history and the human rights record of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Cameron has no right to ethically talk about other countries’ human rights issues. It took 40 years for the United Kingdom to release the report on the killing of 13 Northern Ireland civilians in 1972. Now, the leader of the same country is asking Sri Lanka to release the report on what happened during 30 years of war, within three or four months,” Prof. Piyadasa said.<br /> He pointed out that the British Prime Minister’s demand becomes more unjustified because Sri Lanka is in the process of rehabilitation and reconciliation.<br /> “Sri Lanka is now in the process of reviewing what happened during the past 30 years and taking action according to the country’s laws,” he said.</div> <div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;"> - See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/local/cameron-lambasted#sthash.OchvDKZz.dpufid Cameron during a major international event.</div> <div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;"> Referring to his claims of human rights violations by Sri Lanka, University Grants Commission Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said: “We also know that the Prime Minister had several talks with other groups in the UK before his visit and may have had preconceived views on human rights and had incorrect information from that side about Sri Lanka. The fact that the British Premier visited Jaffna and was able to present his individual views while in Colombo, shows that there is freedom in Sri Lanka.”<br /> Kelaniya University Mass Communication Department Head Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said it was Lord Torrington who ordered the killing of innocent Buddhist monk, Venerable Kudapola who was executed dressed in full robes by a firing squad at the Court Martial in Kandy in 1848.<br /> “The monk was falsely accused of withholding information on the rebel leaders although there was not a shred of evidence to substantiate the charges. The then Attorney General strongly opposed the execution of the monk,” he said. “When considering the history and the human rights record of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Cameron has no right to ethically talk about other countries’ human rights issues. It took 40 years for the United Kingdom to release the report on the killing of 13 Northern Ireland civilians in 1972. Now, the leader of the same country is asking Sri Lanka to release the report on what happened during 30 years of war, within three or four months,” Prof. Piyadasa said.<br /> He pointed out that the British Prime Minister’s demand becomes more unjustified because Sri Lanka is in the process of rehabilitation and reconciliation.<br /> “Sri Lanka is now in the process of reviewing what happened during the past 30 years and taking action according to the country’s laws,” he said.<br /> Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara said Sri Lanka is no longer a colony of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is not an organisation that belongs to the UK.<br /> “It is another member state of the Commonwealth. Therefore David Cameron does not have a special privilege to request to have an investigation on the internal matters of Sri Lanka. It is completely an internal matter to be addressed internally as we too have the same system of governance guided by the constitution of Sri Lanka. Instead, what Cameron should have said was that the United Kingdom apologises to the entire Commonwealth nations for the brutality and injustice committed when those countries were colonies under the British Empire. He should have recalled how badly they violate women’s rights, human rights and religious rights in the UK,” he said.<br /> Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s conduct, Prof Gamini Samaranayake said that Cameron is only a member of CHOGM and he has no right to issue threats.<br /> “Sri Lanka is a sovereign independent country and not a British Colony anymore. Cameron has completely forgotten the imperial past of his country. Imperialism was a gross violation of human rights. The British democracy has been converted into British hypocrisy. Sri Lanka should not take Cameron’s statement seriously. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given the right to life, political rights and property rights to over 20 million people in Sri Lanka by ending 30 years of war under his leadership. The President believes that fulfilling the basic needs of the people such as providing drinking water facilities and solving the unemployment problem is more important than political theories. As Chairman of Commonwealth he will pay his full attention to ensure the basic needs of people living in the member states,” he said.<br /> - See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/local/cameron-lambasted#sthash.OchvDKZz.dpuf</div> <div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;"> Referring to his claims of human rights violations by Sri Lanka, University Grants Commission Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said: “We also know that the Prime Minister had several talks with other groups in the UK before his visit and may have had preconceived views on human rights and had incorrect information from that side about Sri Lanka. The fact that the British Premier visited Jaffna and was able to present his individual views while in Colombo, shows that there is freedom in Sri Lanka.”<br /> Kelaniya University Mass Communication Department Head Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said it was Lord Torrington who ordered the killing of innocent Buddhist monk, Venerable Kudapola who was executed dressed in full robes by a firing squad at the Court Martial in Kandy in 1848.<br /> “The monk was falsely accused of withholding information on the rebel leaders although there was not a shred of evidence to substantiate the charges. The then Attorney General strongly opposed the execution of the monk,” he said. “When considering the history and the human rights record of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Cameron has no right to ethically talk about other countries’ human rights issues. It took 40 years for the United Kingdom to release the report on the killing of 13 Northern Ireland civilians in 1972. Now, the leader of the same country is asking Sri Lanka to release the report on what happened during 30 years of war, within three or four months,” Prof. Piyadasa said.<br /> He pointed out that the British Prime Minister’s demand becomes more unjustified because Sri Lanka is in the process of rehabilitation and reconciliation.<br /> “Sri Lanka is now in the process of reviewing what happened during the past 30 years and taking action according to the country’s laws,” he said.<br /> Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara said Sri Lanka is no longer a colony of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is not an organisation that belongs to the UK.<br /> “It is another member state of the Commonwealth. Therefore David Cameron does not have a special privilege to request to have an investigation on the internal matters of Sri Lanka. It is completely an internal matter to be addressed internally as we too have the same system of governance guided by the constitution of Sri Lanka. Instead, what Cameron should have said was that the United Kingdom apologises to the entire Commonwealth nations for the brutality and injustice committed when those countries were colonies under the British Empire. He should have recalled how badly they violate women’s rights, human rights and religious rights in the UK,” he said.<br /> Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s conduct, Prof Gamini Samaranayake said that Cameron is only a member of CHOGM and he has no right to issue threats.<br /> “Sri Lanka is a sovereign independent country and not a British Colony anymore. Cameron has completely forgotten the imperial past of his country. Imperialism was a gross violation of human rights. The British democracy has been converted into British hypocrisy. Sri Lanka should not take Cameron’s statement seriously. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given the right to life, political rights and property rights to over 20 million people in Sri Lanka by ending 30 years of war under his leadership. The President believes that fulfilling the basic needs of the people such as providing drinking water facilities and solving the unemployment problem is more important than political theories. As Chairman of Commonwealth he will pay his full attention to ensure the basic needs of people living in the member states,” he said.<br /> - See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/local/cameron-lambasted#sthash.OchvDKZz.dpuf</div>

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