The Sri Lankan government will not accept any "third party intervention" on "internal matters" the External Affairs Ministry's secretary, Karunathilaka Amunugama said on Monday.
Quoting the defiant words of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Amunugama said:
"The government of Sri Lanka will not accept any mediator or facilitator roles by foreign governments or organisations in finding solutions to its internal problems."
"President Mahinda Rajapaksa's position was very clear in this regard right from the beginning of his office as the President."
"The President's position is that we will be open and be positive to receive and share insights and knowledge of other countries to be constructive in structuring solutions to our problems, be they political or otherwise."
Commenting on how Sri Lanka had snubbed the offer by South Africa's offer of a mediatory role, Amunugama denied the incident had ever occurred.
"There was no such offer or request on his [South African minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim] part to play a facilitator role as such to engage the TNA in talks."
"Although Sri Lanka is open to potential cooperation with foreign nations for knowledge sharing, it will not have any third party intervention in its internal matters. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made his position clear on this aspect."
