'SL's achievements in reconciliation, remarkable'

Chaminda Perera

Seychelles President James Alix Michel yesterday said that Sri Lanka's achievements in promoting reconciliation in the aftermath of the 30 year conflict which plagued the country 's development are remarkable .

President James Alix Michel

He was of the view that healing the wounds of the conflict that had dragged on for more than 30 years is not possible within 3 years. The visiting President said that Sri Lanka has done many things to reconcile all communities and unite the country within this period and its achievement s are remarkable.

In an interview with some newspaper jounalists at Hotel Hilton, he said the process of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliaton Commission is going on and President Mahinda Rajapaksa is committed to do everything he can to heal the wounds and unite the nation.

The Process of LLRC Commission is continuing and what should be done in the field of reconciliation is being done, he said.

Sri Lanka now enjoys peace and stability which are prerequisites for development, he said. President Michel said that his country will formulate a framework under which more Sri Lankan experts in the legal, educational and many other areas would be employed.

He said that Seychells is in the path of development and it needs experts in many fields .

The President said more Sri Lankan experts in health, legal and education sectors would be employed to achieve their development goal.

He added Sri Lankans have held top posts in the legal hierarchy in his country . The posts of Attorney General, Chief Justice and Legal Draftsman were held by prominent Sri Lankans, he added. He said that tourism and fishing industries are main income earners of the country and his country has sought Sri Lankan expertise to build fishing boats too.

The visiting President also said that Seychelles is facing a shortage of teachers in secondary schools and universities and a framework is being formulated to employ more Sri Lankan teachers in future.

The President said tourism industry in Sychelles is booming and a number of international hotel chains are operating in his country. He added that Sri Lanka can have very close relation with Sychelles in the field of tourism and trade.

He invited Sri Lankan business community to invest in Sychelles .

"We can invest in Sri Lanka as a joint venture too, he said. He also stressed the importance of having close links with the Indian Ocean nations to promote martitime cooperation which would help boost Sri Lankan exports to the African region.

He said that his country is holding talks with SriLankan airlines to have air links between the African region and Sri Lanka to

promote tourism and people to people contact. He said his country is holding negotiations with the Sri Lankan Civil Aviation authorities over this matter.