Sri Lanka concerns over attempts to use social media for regime change

Dec 30,2014

COLOMBO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Monday raised concerns over alleged attempts to use social media to push for regime change.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking at an election rally, noted youth are being drawn to believe false propaganda using Facebook in order to push for regime change.

He said that one should question if change should be sought in a country for the good or bad or just for the sake of having change.

The Sri Lankan president is seeking a third term in office at elections set for Jan. 8 and his main battle will be against opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Sirisena is looking to abolish the Executive Presidential System in Sri Lanka if he wins the polls, claiming that the system is being misused by Sri Lankan leaders.

Rajapaksa however said that he used the Executive Presidency to end the war as that is what the people wanted.

He also noted that now there is a push to reduce the army presence in the war affected North of the country and remove the high security zones.

The president said that he will not agree to remove the high security zones in the North as some of them must remain for national security.

Sri Lanka continues to maintain a fairly strong army presence in the North despite the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels after 30 years of war in May 2009.

The Sri Lankan government fears there is an attempt by the rebels to regroup using the support network it has overseas.