SL on the path of prosperity - Pakistani envoy

Sri Lanka is destined to be blessed with lasting peace and prosperity as the country has eliminated the scourge of terrorism from its soil, said Pakistani Acting High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Amna Baloch.

The Acting High Commissioner was addressing a seminar on "Political and Diplomatic Challenges Faced by Nations During and After Conflicts Confined to Borders" organized jointly by the Pakistani High Commission and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the Kadirgamar Institute Colombo on Wednesday.

The Acting High Commissioner said "My confidence stems from the resolve and determination that I have seen in President Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan people."

She said scoring a political victory or winning a war is not the only task that Pakistan and Sri Lanka have to achieve. The countries have wars of greater magnitude to win - the war against poverty, disease, backwardness, imbalanced social order, political disharmony. She said that "our struggle, to rise above the ordinary, and, to be among the developed comity of nations has just begun."

She urged Pakistan and Sri Lanka to seize this opportunity and work hand-in-hand to make this region, a hub of economic prosperity and social development.

While highlighting strong bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, she said the two friendly countries share the same dreams, same aspirations, and have similar values and share trust and mutual respect and understanding.

Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said one of the most critical tasks of the military in the post war context is to win the hearts and minds of the people in the conflict affected areas.

Dealing with other nations is another challenge a nation will face after an internal conflict. The emphasis placed by the international community on various issues changes over time, Rajapaksa said.

He said " the issue of human rights has become one of the most critical topics in the relationship between states. Militant groups can be skillful in using their activists around the world to exploit these issues to create problems for the government in the post conflict situation."

The speakers from Pakistan included Pakistani Former Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, Senior Analyst and Dean Faculty of contemporary Studies of NDU Islamabad Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, and Defence Analyst Lt. Gen. (Retired) Hamid Khan.

The speakers from Sri Lanka included Former Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China Nihal Rodrigo, Colombo University Prof. H D. Karunaratne,, Head, Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, Singapore Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, Colombo University Law Faculty Dean and Sri Lanka Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa and Sir John Kotalawala Defence University Chancellor Major. Gen. Milinda Pieris.