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| Thursday, 17 April 2003 |
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India yesterday said it would support a final solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict which recognises the rights of all communities. This was stated by India's High Commissioner to Washington Lalit Mansing addressing the pre-donor conference to pledge aid to the Government's "Regaining Sri Lanka" programme. "India will support a political solution that will meet the aspirations of all sections", Mansing told the delegates to the conference at the State Department Auditorium in Washington. He said "India was committed to ensuring the protection of Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The High Commissioner stated that all political parties in Sri Lanka kept India informed regarding developments on the peace process and that recent visits of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had greatly helped strengthening ties between the two countries. Mansing said India was able to understand the destruction caused by Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict and the magnitude of the reconstruction that is to be undertaken. He also reminded of the 200 million dollar loan granted by India to Sri Lanka through the Indo-Lanka bi-lateral treaty while assuring India's assistance towards the development efforts of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, President of the World Bank James Wolfensen has agreed to visit Sri Lanka at the end of this year. This is the first visit by a World Bank Chairman to the Country in 30 years. The visit was confirmed when Wolfensen met Economic Reforms, Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC. Moragoda co-chaired the preparatory meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. The Minister had briefed the WB President about the state of the country's economy and the Government's plans to remedy the situation by fostering permanent growth. The World Bank President expressed hope that the conflict in Sri Lanka would be ended soon so that development could start in a peaceful environment. |
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