Sri Lanka needs our support says Europe

* LLRC recommendations very encouraging
* EU welcomes PSC, Trilingual Policy

The European Parliament Members (MEPs) have generally agreed that Sri Lanka needs Europe’s constructive support and encouragement, rather than constant harassment in overcoming problems and building a more prosperous and secure future for all Sri Lankans.

Chairman of the Friends of Sri Lanka Group in the European Parliament Geoffrey Van Orden MBE MEP made this observation in a press release after a meeting with MEPs from many different countries and political parties and others concerned, who met in the EU Parliament on January 25 for a roundtable discussion on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’s Report.

He said that several MEPs had visited Sri Lanka and heard a range of different views. Orden said that most MEPs had felt that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) set up by Sri Lanka had addressed the issues of international concern and its conclusion and recommendations were very encouraging.

“While there are still areas of concern, the MEPs generally agreed that Sri Lanka needs our constructive support and encouragement, rather than constant harassment, in overcoming the problems of the recent past and building a more prosperous and secure future for all its peoples, orden said. He said that what was now most important was that they be implemented. “Those - including some normally reputable NGOs - who had suggested that the LLRC’s efforts would result in a whitewash, have been proved dramatically wrong “, he added.

Orden emphasized that an inclusive political process was essential to guarantee reconciliation and ensure that the mistakes of the past were not repeated.

“We were encouraged by the steps already taken through the time-limited Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) ; the Trilingual Policy; and the bi-lateral talks with a leading Tamil party, the TNA, although there was disappointment that the TNA, through its reaction to the LLRC report, seemed to be stuck in the past”, he added.

Orden noted that the government of Sri Lanka has undertaken to investigate specific allegations of atrocity regarding the latter stages of the conflict; to ensure the dispossessed returned to the lands where they once lived; to end possession of unauthorised

weapons; and to restrict the role of the Security Forces exclusively to security related matters.

“Concern was expressed at the continued activities of extremist elements within the diaspora in many countries who promoted discontent and sought to reignite conflict.

There was a call for people of Sri Lankan origin living overseas to do more for their former countrymen and invest in business and development projects.