Opposing the 13th Amendment was a violation of the constitution as it was a part of the country’s basic law, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera said. He also said the habit of opposing any move was detrimental to the country’s future. Addressing a large gathering at the National Day celebrations in the Badulla district he pointed out that the 13th Amendment was already a part of the constitution and that it was meaningless to oppose it.

The National Day celebrations in Badulla were organised by the Badulla District Secretariat with the help of the National Youth Services Council, Badulla Municipal Council, Foreign Employment Bureau and the Badulla Divisional Secretariat.

Minister Dilan Perera further said, “A conspiracy against the Sri Lankan government is being hatched by the international community. However, we have been able to defeat their attempt with the help of the friendly countries.

We will have the opportunity to enjoy freedom only if we defeat the malicious allegations against the country. The forces that attempt to fulfil the expectations of the terrorists meet in September every year, he added.

The Minister said the government had taken steps to face any threat at the international level. Today Sri Lanka was one country. The terrorist movement that campaigned for a division in the country had been defeated.

It was the duty of all those concerned to join hands as one nation to make independence a reality, he said, and added that the 13th Amendment had been a focal point today and much had been talked about it. However all parliamentarians, members of provincial councils or Pradeshiya Sabhas have taken an oath to uphold the constitution that contains the 13th Amendment.

Several local politicians, government officials, schoolchildren and residents of the area attended the ceremony.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka