Professor Peiris meets Indian minister and envoys in New Delhi
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, on a two-day visit to
New Delhi held discussions on Monday with over 70 envoys accredited to
Sri Lanka who are resident in New Delhi.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris meeting with India's
Minister of Human Resource Development and Minister
of Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal. |
The minister briefed the envoys in detail regarding the situation
which existed in Sri Lanka's North and East before the conclusion of the
conflict in May 2009, the current situation, specific approaches that
have been identified as a means of overcoming the challenges before the
nation, and the progress made so far in multiple fronts since the end of
the conflict approximately two-and-a-half years ago.
Explaining that the Government of Sri Lanka is acutely conscious of
the unique opportunity afforded as a result of the successful conclusion
of the conflict, Prof. Peiris assured the envoys that the political will
that is required to carry forward the development agenda, implementation
of the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation
Commission (LLRC), and political reform do exist. This is evident in the
pragmatic strategies that have been drawn up and the implementation
processes that have commenced in earnest, within weeks of the LLRC
Report being presented to Parliament. Emphasizing that the Government is
committed to engaging with the international community in a spirit of
candour in dealing with all issues, the Minister informed the envoys
that the Government is working as well towards restructuring Sri Lanka's
diplomatic representation to strengthen cooperation with countries in
the Latin American, Caribbean and African and Central Asian regions.
Discussion covered the following areas in detail; resettlement of
displaced persons; demining; rehabilitation of ex-combatants;
reconciliation; implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC,
especially in the areas of restitution, land, demilitarization, and
language policy including the trilingual initiative.
At his meeting with the Minister of Human Resource Development and
Minister of Communications and Information Technology of India Kapil
Sibal, Prof. Peiris discussed how India could support the effective
implementation of the National Plan for a Trilingual Sri Lanka
(2012-2021) that was launched on 21 January by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, with the participation of former President of India, Dr. A P
J Abdul Kalam.
With a view to enhancing cooperation between the Lakshman Kadirgamar
Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
and Indian Institutions, the minister met former Indian Foreign
Secretary Ambassador Shyam Saran, Chairman of the Research and
Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Director
General of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) Ambassador Sudir
Devare. |