Abbas assures Prof Peiris:

Palestine, a steadfast friend of Sri Lanka

The State of Palestine appreciates the consistent goodwill and support it has received from Sri Lanka throughout its struggle for international recognition, and should always be counted on as a steadfast friend of Sri Lanka, President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine told External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris in Ramallah on Sunday.

Minister Peiris expressed the Sri Lankan government’s pleasure with the adoption of the historic resolution on enhancement of the status of Palestine in the United Nations and the support extended by 138 countries in the United Nations General Assembly to upgrade the status of Palestine as a Non-Member Observer State.

He said Sri Lanka supports Palestinians application for admission as a full member of the United Nations.

President Abbas, recalling his visit to Sri Lanka in 2008 and 2012, said he is grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who, as President of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement in Sri Lanka for over 35 years, identified very closely with the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

He said the Palestinian Foreign Relations Commission expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka during its war against terrorism and continues to support Sri Lanka strongly in all its initiatives after the achievement of peace.

He especially thanked Sri Lanka for its references to the cause of the Palestinian people at the session of the United Nations General Assembly every year, and commented that this commitment contributed in substantial measure to the success which Palestine has achieved.

Prof Peiris reiterated Sri Lanka’s support for the two State solution, based on successive resolutions of the United Nations, with emphasis on security of each States within its borders.

President Abbas described to the minister the current issues with which the State of Palestine is grappling, including the building of settlements and issues connected with prisoners on hunger strike.

Peiris gave Abbas a briefing on the challenges which Sri Lanka is facing after the eradication of terrorism and in particular current developments in the Human Rights Council.

President Abbas praised Sri Lanka’s accomplishments in responding to a variety of daunting challenges within the brief period which has elapsed since the eradication of terrorism.

President Abbas and Minister Peiris identified several fields appropriate for close collaboration between Sri Lanka and Palestine.

This included mutual support in the international fora, especially in the context of Sri Lanka’s focus on strengthening bilateral relations with the Arab world.

It was decided to build on four agreements concluded between the two countries, in the areas of economic collaboration, political consultations, technical co-operation and the training of primary education teachers.

State of Palestine Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Riad Al-Malki with whom Prof Peiris had a separate meeting, was present at the discussion between President Abbas and Minister Peiris at the President’s Office.