EU for strong ties with Lanka

The European Union (EU) is committed to maintaining bilateral ties with Sri Lanka, a statement from the 27-nation bloc has said. A delegation of senior officials from the EU visited Sri Lanka from March 16 to 18, to discuss concerns over the current situation in the country, according to EuAsiaNews.

A statement issued by the EU presidency noted that the EU and Sri Lanka have deep economic, political and cultural ties. Slovenia holds the current EU presidency. "The EU is committed to maintaining these ties and welcomes the opportunity provided by this visit for open and frank discussions," the statement said.

The bloc welcomed such steps as have been taken towards a politically sustainable devolution plan for Sri Lanka.

Following peaceful elections in the Batticaloa district on March 10, key issues have been identified concerning the provision of proper electoral conditions.

The EU sees effective action on this as key to ensuring free and fair voting at the provincial elections scheduled for May.

"The EU has an active, well-defined policy on counter-terrorism. This underlies the EU's unequivocal condemnation of all terrorist activities, including those by the LTTE."

In 2006, the EU listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. Since then there have been a number of criminal prosecutions against LTTE fund-raising in Europe.