President says UN rights chief happy with progress

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is happy with the progress in Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

The President also stressed that the Government will not enter into any agreement that could endanger the local economy and the culture of the country.

He pointed out that, even though his political rivals are spreading false rumours regarding the agreement to be signed with India in the future, the allegations against it are baseless.

He made these observations while participating in an opening ceremony of a concrete factory in Balangoda yesterday.

The President further said that when the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights met him following his tour to various places including the North and East of the country in an attempt to understand the actual ground situation, he commended the current situation in the country.

President Sirisena he also made a pledge to provide assistance for the future development of the country, and added that the people of this country brought him to power to take the country forward and not to take the country backward.

He further said that he is ready to even sacrifice his life to protect the dignity of the nation while not bowing down to any foreign influence. (Colombo Gazette)