UK applauds Sri Lanka’s approach to a Constitutional solution

BRITAIN: British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett at a meeting with the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday applauded the efforts being made by the Sri Lankan Government to bring peace to the island and invigorate economic development.

She also confirmed that the UK in the context of its valued strong bilateral relations with Sri Lanka was keen to work in supporting these initiatives which are currently under way, states a Foreign Ministry press release.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama emphatically reiterated that the Sri Lanka Government was not pursuing a military solution and was committed to a negotiated political settlement through Constitutional reforms that would address the concerns of all communities.

The British Foreign Secretary appreciated the Government’s efforts of a pluralistic approach to devolve power through a Constitutional process and indicated that the UK was willing to support a genuine offer of devolution. Minister Bogollagama observed that Sri Lanka would look towards drawing from the UK’s long experience in constitutional processes.

With regard to the concerns expressed by the Foreign Minister on LTTE fundraising in the UK, Foreign Secretary Beckett assured that more effective steps would be taken to prevent the flow of funds. The two Ministers also discussed issues pertaining to human rights, UK’s role in the Government’s peace initiatives and the exchange of high level visits.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Bogollagama met with Parliamentary Under - Secretary of State for International Development Gareth Thomas who sated that the UK would fully support a home-grown solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and endorsed the broad-based consultations with other political parties the Sri Lankan Government had undertaken in its efforts to devolve power through constitutional reform.

The Ministers also exchanged views on the situation in Sri Lanka and underscored the importance of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the UK in bringing about a solution on the concerned issues.

The visiting Minister outlined the economic initiatives of the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and appreciated the UK’s economic assistance in particular following the tsunami. Minister Thomas emphasised that the UK was pleased to learn of the constructive efforts being made by the Government amidst numerous challenges and indicated that the UK would do whatever possible with continued economic assistance.

The two Ministers also discussed the extension of a grant for the education sector development as well as patterns of budgetary expenditure and financial accountability.

In a meeting with former Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, MP this afternoon, Foreign Minister Bogollagama indicated that Sri Lanka was keen to draw from the Northern Ireland experience in bringing peace to Sri Lanka and stated that he believed the UK could play a constructive role in supporting the Government’s efforts to resolve the conflict through a constitutional process.

The minister had wide ranging discussions with Mr. Murply on the UK’s support for the Government’s ongoing peace efforts.

Associated at these meetings were Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary Foreign Affairs and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK Kshenuka Senewiratne.