Minister briefs UN of Lankan situation

Sri Lanka, now beginning a new chapter in her contemporary history, needs the goodwill and support of the developed world to achieve success within a brief time span Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said at the United Nations in New York.

He was having a wide ranging discussion on the political and economic situation in Sri Lanka with Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States in the U.N. and a member of the Cabinet of President Barack Obama, Susan Rice.

Prof. Peiris conveyed to Rice the warm felicitations and good wishes of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and said that the Government of Sri Lanka appreciates the multilateral approach to international relations to which the administration of President Obama is committed.

He briefed Rice comprehensively on Sri Lanka's current initiatives on economy and the political process in the post-conflict phase. At his bilateral meeting at the United Nations with South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Prof. Peiris thanked her for the consistent support which Sri Lanka received from the South African Government at the other international fora.

The South African Foreign Minister said, her country is eager to share with Sri Lanka her insights and experience in addressing similar issues and is ready all times to assist Sri Lanka.

In New York the Minister met with Vijay Nambiar, Chef de Cabinet of United Nations Secretary-General Bank-Ki Moon and briefed him on development in the country.

At his meeting with U.N. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes gave an account of the progress being made to the care of displaced persons and their re-settlement.

He also discussed the current situation in the country with the delegations of India, Japan, Malaysia and Austria.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador and Permanent representative in the United Nations H. M. G. S. Palihakkara was present with Minister Peiris at the discussion.