High level visits by a large number of countries:

All eyes on Sri Lanka now says GL

External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris said at no time in Sri Lanka's recent history have we seen the international focus Sri Lanka is receiving now, with visits at very high levels from a large number of countries including India, China, Japan, the Russian Federation, the Untied States, South Africa, Pakistan, the Seychelles, Swaziland and the Maldives.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma is also due to arrive shortly, he said.

Minister Peiris speaking as the Chief Guest at a meeting of the Association of Consuls said this situation shows, beyond any doubt the intensity and continuity of Sri Lanka's engagement with the world.

"We are legitimately proud of our achievements and we want these foreign dignitaries to observe for themselves, at first hand, the country's signal accomplishments after the eradication of terrorism," he said.

Dealing with the role of Consuls, the minister said they have a crucial function to perform at this time in providing a constant flow of information to the capitals with which they are linked.

"This information has to be continually updated : for example, that very morning, the Central Bank Governor and his officials had completed a task assigned to them by the government and submitted to the External Affairs Minister and the Secretary to the President the translation of the complete text of the LLRC report into Sinhala and Tamil, to broaden the scope of public awareness of the recommendations contained in the report."

Having regard to the magnitude of Sri Lanka's achievements, acknowledged by all, in a wide variety of fields including resettlement of internally displaced persons, the re-integration of ex-combatants into society, effective de-mining operations and remarkable infrastructure development in the Northern Province in particular, resulting in revival of the economy of the area, it is only just and reasonable to expect adequate time and space to be made available to Sri Lanka to continue with domestic processes which are already well under way, the minister said.

Excessive international pressure is counterproductive, especially because it encourages local actors to disregard local processes and to expect solutions to be imposed from abroad "a state of things which we all know cannot occur," he said.

Prof Peiris stressed on the role which Consuls should play in matters connected with the diaspora, and the protection of Sri Lanka's economic interests including trade, investment and tourism abroad.

Association President Daya Wettasinghe who chaired the meeting, expressed appreciation of Minister Peiris' decision to include Consuls in all briefings by the minister for the diplomatic community.

"This ensures that Consuls are kept in the loop, so that they can perform their functions with greater effectiveness in the national interest," he said.

International Monetary Co-operation Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama also addressed the Consuls.

Among those attending the event were the ambassador of Japan and the High Commissioners of India, Australia, Pakistan, Canada and South Africa.