President says no pressure (Audio)

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the decision to appoint a commission to investigate incidents of disappearances during the war was not taken owing to outside pressure.
Speaking to newspaper editors and electronic media heads at Temple Trees today the President said that he saw the need for an investigation some time ago.
President?s Secretary Lalith Weerathunga, who has been tasked to appoint the commission, said that a three member commission will be appointed soon.
Meanwhile the President said that if Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Chief Ministerial candidate C.V Wigneswaran is interested in discussing the issue over land and police powers to the provinces he is willing to meet Wigneswaran on that issue.
He also said that while on a provincial level opposition members are still joining the government the ?doors are now closed? for opposition members to crossover to the government in parliament.
President Rajapaksa said that the people in North must seize the opportunity and elect their own representatives in the upcoming Provincial Councils election.
“Participating in a democratic process is a clear indication of new freedom they are currently enjoying,” President added.
Expressing his views on fishermen issue in North and East, the President said the latest trend is an organized act by certain interested parties who try to fish in the troubled water.
“Our people in North could not go fishing for a long time due to conflict. Now when they try to resume their livelihood, they have to face this new problem,” he said adding that Sri Lanka will always adhere to the policy of humane treatment for Indian fishermen who have been detained by the Sri Lanka Navy for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Asked why former LTTE media coordinator Daya Master has not been included in the final list of nominations of the UPFA for the polls in the North, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that the best lot were selected as there was room only for a few. ? (Colombo Gazette)
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO