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Lankan peace process, an example to international community -Straw

The British Government regards the Sri Lankan peace process not only as a national achievement but also as an example to the international community, Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in London on Tuesday. He proposed to make a presentation shortly, he said, to the Foreign Minister of the European Union on Sri Lanka as an example of the ability of government with a structured agenda to transform a twenty-year old ethnic conflict into a promising negotiating process which has achieved significant results within a short period.

He made these observations during a meeting with Professor G.L. Peiris Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs and the Sri Lankan government's chief negotiator with the LTTE.

Minister Peiris expressed warm appreciation of the material support offered by the United Kingdom at the meeting of donors last month in Oslo where Britain's Secretary of International Development, Ms. Clare Short, pledged 8 million sterling pounds in addition to the sum of 2.5 million pounds pledged for urgent humanitarian and rehabilitation work at the commencement of negotiations in September.

Foreign Secretary Straw assured the visiting Sri Lankan Minister that Britain stands ready to extend further support as the peace process moves forward.

The two Ministers discussed in detail the form and content of British assistance, the parameters of which had been determined in discussions which Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held with Prime Minister Tony Blair in London in May.

In consequence of a request by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to Tony Blair, a meeting was arranged between Minister Peiris and Lord Irvine, of Lairg, Lord, Chancellor of the United Kingdom. The focus at this meeting was on constitutional arrangements for the devolution of power in different parts of the United Kingdom.

Foreign Secretary Straw discussed with Minister Peiris the implications of the decisions made so far in the peace process, with particular reference to the agreement reached with regard to a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka as the basis of a negotiated political settlement.

Within this context he offered extended British assistance in respect of the reorganization of the police force in Sri Lanka as an aspect of law enforcement initiatives.

Minister Peiris said that the government of Sri Lanka is looking forward to the visit which Ms. Clare Short is scheduled to make to the country shortly.

He added that the government will make use of this high level visit to discuss modalities relating to the work of the sub-committee on humanitarian and rehabilitation work with a view to ensuring rapid and effective delivery.

Foreign Secretary Straw, wishing the process every success, told Minister Peiris that the British government will follow developments with deep interest as the negotiating teams prepare for the fourth session of talks in Thailand in the first week of January.

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