Sri Lanka denies int'l pressure forced emergency laws out

The Sri Lanka government on Thursday denied that international pressure was the reason for its decision to lift emergency laws. "We were not influenced by any pressure. We have proved in recent times that we will not respond to external pressures," Anura Yapa, the acting government spokesman told reporters. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa making a special address in parliament Thursday said state of emergency which was in force since August 2005 would be lifted. The state of emergency gave sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain people, which the government said was essential to counter the threat from Tamil Tiger rebels. Meanwhile in the first reaction from overseas, the neighboring Maldives welcomed the decision. "President Mohamed Nasheed has welcomed Rajapaksa's decision not to extend Sri Lanka's state of emergency. He commended Rajapaksa's bold and far sighted move," said the president's office of the Maldives.