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President, Tyronne off to CHOGM

by Manjula Fernando

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando left for Australia early this morning to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Brisbane March 2 to 5.

President Kumaratunga leads the Sri Lankan delegation to the parley where leaders from 54 Commonwealth countries will pay special attention on the issue of terrorism, its consequences, and elimination, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack in the US.

The Commonwealth has taken a firm collective stand against terrorism, formulating tough regulations to check terrorism funding within its member countries.

The Commonwealth Ad-Hoc Committee on Terrorism had several meetings at official level including meetings of Foreign Ministers in London last month. The President and the Foreign Minister are expected to hold bilateral talks with several Heads of State and governments during their stay in Brisbane. The Foreign Minister is scheduled to have a meeting with the Australian Council for Overseas Aid an umbrella organisation of 95 Aid Agencies, of which 14 currently work on development programs in Sri Lanka.

He is also to be interviewed on BBC and ABC Radio and TV on the Norwegian facilitated peace process and the signing of the agreement between the Government and the LTTE.

Queen Elizabeth II will ceremoniously inaugurate the meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on March 2.

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