FM underscores Sri Lanka's multi-faceted relationship with EU

Sri Lanka values its historical and multi-faceted relationship with the European Union (EU) covering a number of areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, which has now developed into a robust partnership.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama made these remarks when an EU-Troika delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Madam Helena Bambasova, representing the incumbent Presidency of the EU , accompanied by other members of the delegation called on him at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday prior to the official talks with the Sri Lankan delegation.

The EU-Troika delegation, comprising senior officials representing the current Czech Presidency, the incoming Presidency of Sweden, the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council was on a two day visit to Sri Lanka, as part of the continuing dialogue between the two sides.

Minister Bogollagama gave a comprehensive briefing to the visiting delegation on the current situation in the country, during which he highlighted the Government's successful efforts in countering terrorism after almost 27 years of conflict arising from the violence and terror perpetrated by the LTTE against the people of Sri Lanka.

He noted that today, the LTTE is confined to an area less than 3.5 square km in extent in the safety zone declared by the Government for the protection of civilians.

However, he stated that the LTTE is holding the civilians hostage, as human shields, putting their lives at risk, and continuing to defy repeated calls by the international community to lay down its weapons and surrender, in order to bring a speedy end to the conflict. The Government's immediate concern is for the safety of the civilians who have been entrapped in the no-fire zone and is therefore actively pursuing efforts to rescue them from the clutches of the LTTE.

The Foreign Minister stated that the Government is now focusing its attention on the post-conflict scenario, in particular to resettle all the civilians who have been forcibly displaced by the LTTE, in their original places of residence, no sooner such places have been cleared of mines and made suitable for human habitation.

He noted that the Government's intention is to resettle 80% of the IDPs before the end of this year.