'SL's reconciliation efforts restored rights to all'

Sri Lanka's development and reconciliation efforts after nearly three decades of conflict have restored rights to all Sri Lankans, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya told students of USA's Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

"Sri Lankans who actually lived through the horrors of terrorism and the conflict know that today their country has dramatically changed for the better," Ambassador said. "The rest of the world also knows this. The UN and other aid agencies have commented on Sri Lanka's ongoing reconciliation efforts and issued positive reports."

In a talk entitled Life After Conflict: Reconciliation and Redevelopment in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Wickramsuriya also discussed development projects in Sri Lanka, the nation's lasting peace after nearly three decades of conflict against a brutal terrorist group and healing efforts, which include the work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

He noted that the LLRC's work has been transparent, with more than 200 public hearings and witness testimony posted on the LLRC's website. The panel has also already made preliminary recommendations, the ambassador said, and its final report is due out by Nov. 15.

"This domestic process is ongoing and should be given the time and space to finalize its report. The LLRC should not be pre-judged," Ambassador Wickramasuriya said. "Certain NGOs were invited by the LLRC to testify on their allegations, and to offer evidence. They have refused. That is unfortunate. The LLRC is a public discussion about what happened during the conflict. These NGOs have missed an important opportunity to be part of that discussion with Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka." "The end of the conflict left not only 300,000 people displaced and without homes, but with very little to return to," the ambassador said. "As they retreated, the LTTE damaged many homes and planted landmines in communities so that no one could safely return."

Today, he said, Sri Lanka's de-mining effort continues. In addition, a massive redevelopment programme in Northern Sri Lanka is underway, including the construction of new houses and roads, bridges, water systems, rail lines and other important infrastructure.

He predicted that GDP for 2011will be higher than the 8.2 percent for 2010, and noted that unemployment rate is down to about 4.5 percent, inflation jumped up a bit earlier this year to 7 percent due to food prices but is now coming down, tourism is growing this year more than last, and is forecast to continue growing and that foreign investment will top US $1 billion in 2011.

"We just had a sovereign bond issue that was oversubscribed by seven times. American investors bought 43 percent of those bonds, they were the majority buyers," he added.