Eastern province model for peace building and development -FM

NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama urged the international community including the UN to complement Sri Lanka’s efforts to uplift economic standards of Eastern Province residents.

Minister Bogollagama, during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at the UN Headquarters in New York, said the re-development of the Eastern Province, most of which had been secured by the Government Forces, could serve as a model for post-conflict peace building and development.

Bogollagama who arrived in New York on Monday night, met Ann Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF and Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator and other senior UN officials.

The Minister also thanked the Secretary-General for the very prompt statement he issued when a group of Ambassadors in Sri Lanka who travelled to Batticaloa on a humanitarian mission last month, came under LTTE mortar fire.

He said the LTTE must understand that they cannot hinder the efforts of the Government, as well as the international donor community, in providing relief to the people.

Briefing the Secretary-General on efforts under way in Sri Lanka to find a political settlement to the conflict, the Minister detailed the painstaking process that had been pursued over the past 13 months by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the aim of seeking a ‘Southern consensus’.

He noted that very soon, after considering the views of all stakeholders, the Government would find a political resolution to the current conflict.

The UN Secretary-General who recalled that he had met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on several occasions, and had also hosted him as the Foreign Minister of South Korea, said he had deep personal respect for the President and came to appreciate the daunting challenges Sri Lanka faces.

Discussing issues concerning human rights in Sri Lanka, the Minister apprised the Secretary-General of the tangible measures taken by the Government over the past few months to improve human rights.

These included both the investigation of alleged instances of violations and leaving no room for such incidents in the future.

The Minister said the Sri Lanka Government will remain responsible and accountable in this area.

The Foreign Minister also called upon the international community to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to deal with the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and assist in curbing LTTE fund raising and arms procurement.

The Secretary-General also complimented Sri Lanka for maintaining a strong working relationship with the UN, especially in the reform of the United Nations where the country’s representation plays a very productive role.

He looked forward to continued constructive engagement between Sri Lanka and the UN in the future. Bogollagama was accompanied to the meeting by Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, Director-General of Public Communication/Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ravinatha Aryasinha and A. L. Abdul Azeez, Deputy Permanent Representative.

The Secretary-General was accompanied by Vijay Nambiar, Chef de Cabinet, Angela Kane, Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and other UN officials.