Sri Lanka's president defends wartime policies

Feb 4, 2010, 10:42 GMT

Colombo - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday spoke out in defence of the hard line he adopted towards foreign interference during the years of conflict with Tamil rebels.

He acted in his country's best interests by rejecting international accusations of human rights abuses, he said at the first independence day celebrations since the end of the civil war.

He added that since the end of the 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May, 'the disputed situation has now ended and relations with foreign countries are smoothening.'

Western countries and international organizations expressed strong concern over alleged abuses of human rights and war crimes by government troops over the final six months before the insurgency was finally quashed.

Civilian casualties among ethnic Tamils in the north of the country rose to an estimated 7,000 during the period, and video recordings were circulated appearing to show the execution of rebels who had surrendered.

Colombo ignored the United Nations' calls for a ceasefire, and cancelled UN staff visas.

With the end of the conflict, the international community is 'beginning to understand the correct situation,' the president said in his speech in the town of Kandy, 120 kilometres east of the capital.

He added that the defeated insurgency 'was also a threat to them,' referring to his critics in the West.

As diplomatic relations with Western countries soured at the height of the conflict, Colombo maintained strong links with China, India, Pakistan, Iran and Myanmar.

'I always obtained international support after taking the country into consideration,' said Rajapaksa, denying that his policies aimed to consolidate his own authority.

Rajapaksa was re-elected for a second term in the January 26 elections, defeating General Sarath Fonseka, his former army commander, by a wide margin.

Fonseka challenged the results, but Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka on Wednesday dismissed the challenge.

The government and opposition are gearing up for parliamentary elections scheduled for April.