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Turkey insists allegations by Gnanasara Thero baseless
29 May, 2019
Turkey today insisted that allegations made by the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), the venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, where he had accused Turkey of funding illegal activities in Sri Lanka, are false and baseless.
Gnanasara Thero had alleged that funds from Turkey were flowing in to Sri Lanka through a special fund.
He had alleged that the funds were being used to influence the media and promote tensions in the country.
However, the Turkish Embassy in Colombo said that the allegations are “utterly false and baseless” and that Turkey will always stand with the people of Sri Lanka against any form of extremism.
The Embassy also said that Turkey has maintained strong ties with Sri Lanka and provided technical and humanitarian assistance since 2004.
The Embassy also noted that the official aid agency of Turkey and the Turkish Red Crescent have conducted various projects in Sri Lanka since 2004.
Among the projects carried out in Sri Lanka are a housing project in Midigama for tsunami victims and a housing project for IDPs in Mannar.
Other projects have also been implemented in the North, Peradeniya, Trincomalee and Ampara.
Turkey says it has also supported local journalists by providing them equipment to facilitate independent and impartial reporting.
The Embassy insisted that the assistance projects are being conducted with total transparency and with the fullest cooperation from local authorities. (Colombo Gazette)
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