Following European visit to lobby for GSP plus:

Inter-religious leaders meet President

A group of Inter-religious leaders who recently visited European Union countries to explain the merits of extending the GSP plus facility to Sri Lanka handed in their report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. The visit took place between September 3 and 9.

The delegation comprising the Ven Dr. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera, Ven Dr. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera, Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith, Kurukkal Kugananda, Fr. Damian Fernando and Moulavi Niyas Moulana.

They have apprised the EU community that a million Sri Lankans were benefiting as a result of the GSP plus facility and its withdrawal would greatly impact on the war displaced now being resettled by the Government in their native lands. They also stated that the facility would be a boon to the Government which is striving to rebuild the infrastructure in the war-ravaged areas and that it would be great assistance in the country's economic renaissance. The delegates also emphasized that they did not belong to any political ideology but a body representing different religions and that their yearning was to see the rebuilding of the country devastated by war.

Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera said European visit was mainly centred on lobbying the European community for obtaining the GSP plus facility to Sri Lanka adding that they even submitted a memorandum to the Pope Benedict XVI in Rome and received a positive response from the Vatican.

Dr. Malcolm Ranjith expressed the view that there was a wrong picture painted about Sri Lanka among the European countries and that these countries had no knowledge about the steps taken to resettle the IDPs.

President Rajapaksa meanwhile said certain sections of the Opposition together with pro-LTTE elements overseas were spreading various stories to denigrate Sri Lanka with the aim of denying the GSP plus facility.

"Our function should be to mend the hearts that were broken due to the war. The Government is already taking steps in this direction.

"Our forces conducted the humanitarian operation in a disciplined and responsible manner. By tending to and looking after the members of LTTE families they have shown this in ample measure" the President said.