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President’s
office explains release of two texts The Office released the original text of her address, " as is customary", with an embargo scheduled for the time of delivery, but President Kumaratunga "used the privilege available to any speaker to adapt some sections of the speech to respond to the proceedings of this meeting", the President's Office press release states. "None of the principles contained in the original text were changed. Only some sections were abbreviated in order to accommodate responses to earlier speakers, such as the Secretary General (of the UN) Kofi Annan and others", the release adds. The release further states that President Kumaratunga's call for a global fight against terrorism and commitment to the resolution of conflict through negotiated settlement and devolution of power, as against war were clearly focused "in the final text delivered". The confusion arose after the Policy Research and Information/Media Unit of the President's Office released President Kumaratunga's speech prior to the delivery, and then sent what it termed an 'edited version' after the delivery. References to Norwegian facilitation in Sri Lanka's peace process had been excluded and references to the LTTE had been included in the revised version of the speech. The President's Press Office was unable to clarify the two texts that had been released until the President returned to the country. |
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