President says will invite leaders to discuss line of action after CONI Report

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that invitations will be sent to political leaders to participate in discussions about how to take action about the Report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CONI). The President’s announcement came in a press briefing held today at Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the press tonight at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on his return from an official visit to Lanka, the President said that invitations would be sent tomorrow. He also said that the discussions shall begin after the publication of CONI Report, which is conducting an inquiry into the circumstances in which former President Mohamed Nasheed resigned on the 7th of February this year.

“My invitation shall be communicated to all political leaders tomorrow, God willing. The purpose of holding discussions among the leaders is to enable all parties to come discuss issues on one platform. We shall see the Report of the CONI very soon. I do hope that we will be able to talk matters over as soon as the Report is published”, said the President.

The President repeated his earlier statement that he did not want to discuss the results of CONI Report before it is published. “I do not wish to speculate on what the consequences of CONI Report would be”, said the President.

President tonight appealed all political parties to give their utmost commitment to participating in the discussions about the Report once it is out.

“It is my earnest request that leaders of all political parties should give national interests precedence over all else. I request everybody to go ahead with the nation by finding ways to go ahead as one nation, and that, after the publication of the Report”, said the President.

The President also said that he was hopeful that all political parties would cooperate with each other in the matter.

The President confirmed that he would take part in the discussions. He added that the Government would welcome MDP’s demonstrations if they were conducted within appropriate limits.

CONI’s Report is set to be published on the coming Thursday.