Sri Lanka briefs Troika on APRC proposals

Sri Lanka briefed the European Union Troika on the work of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) towards achieving a lasting political settlement to the country's conflict, a Foreign Ministry release said.

This is an evolving process which would lead to greater devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan officials who met the six member Troika delegation headed by Ambassador Janez Premoze Director for Asia, Africa and Pacific in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia representing the current EU Presidency said.

Didier Leroy, Head of the South Asian Division in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of France, representing the incoming EU Presidency and James Moran, Director for Asia, External Relations Directorate representing the European Commission were other Troika delegates who held discussions on issues of mutual interest with the Foreign Ministry delegation headed by Secretary, Dr. Palitha Kohona on Monday.

The delegation arrived in Sri Lanka prior to the seventh EC - Sri Lanka Joint Commission to be held in Colombo in June.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who met the delegation on Tuesday emphasised the importance that the Sri Lankan Government attached to their visit and expressed the hope that it would pave way for a constructive engagement with the EU leading to the Joint Commission meeting, the release said.

Sri Lanka welcomed the EU's well defined policy on counter terrorism and the listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation by the EU in 2006.

While welcoming the criminal prosecutions against LTTE fund-raising in some EU Member States, the Lankan delegation urged the EU to prevail upon Member States to enact enabling legislation and take similar action against front LTTE organisations, operating in their territories under the guise of charities, social welfare and cultural associations, it said.

The action taken by the Government to re-establish the democratic process and civil administration in the Eastern Province, after the successful military operations to clear the Province of the LTTE last year, was also elaborated.

The Minister drew the attention of the delegation to the peaceful conduct of the recent Local Government election in the Batticaloa District, with a high voter turnout. The Minister solicited EU support for the economic and social development programme launched by the Government in the province.

Sri Lanka appreciated the important and constructive role played by the EU as one of the co-chairs of the Peace Process. It was reiterated that, while the Government has serious concerns over providing security for high level international visitors to Kilinochchi, such visits in the past had not yielded in any tangible progress in taking forward the Peace Process.

But it had been observed that the LTTE had used high profile visits by foreign dignitaries to the Wanni, for propaganda purposes.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Kohona highlighted the abiding commitment of the Government to uphold and protect human rights in the country.

The Government has recruited 2,000 Tamil speaking officers to Police to serve in the Eastern Province to ensure langauge rights. The Government has made it mandatory for all persons recruited to the public service to acquire proficiency in Sinhala and Tamil, it said.

Minister Bogollagama pointed out Sri Lanka shared the concern of the EU over the decision of the Independent International Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) to prematurely wind up their work in relation to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

While Sri Lanka regrets this unfortunate development, the Government found it difficult to accept the reasons adduced by the IIGEP to leave before the completion of their mandate.

The EU delegation noted the importance that the Sri Lankan Government placed on the extension of the GSP+ Scheme under which Sri Lanka gained preferential access for its exports to the EU, which has made the EU its single biggest export market, worth US$ 03 billion.

The Minister highlighted the GSP+ Scheme has enabled 350,000 rural women to commence employment, to alleviate poverty. He impressed upon the EU delegation the paramount need to extend this Scheme to ensure the equitable economic and social development throughout the country.

Before concluding their visit on Tuesday, the EU delegation also met Government Ministers, Opposition party leaders, senior officials, civil society groups and the media, it said.