UK welcomes massive development in N/E - High Commissioner John
Rankin
Chaminda Perera
UK High Commissioner in Sri Lanka John Rankin yesterday welcomed the
massive development activities taking place in the North and the East
after the end of the 30 year conflict.
He was of the view that this infrastructure development drive will
help create more employment avenues and uplift the living standards of
the people in the region.
The UK High Commissioner was speaking at a panel discussion at the
launch of UNDP Human Development at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute
for International Relations and Strategic Studies.
The report was presented to External Affairs Minister Prof G.L.
Peiris by UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative
Subinay Nandy.
“I travel to the North and the East quite often as part of my job and
I welcome the infrastructure development taking place in the North and
the East of the country”, Rankin said.
He said that the UK also encourages the Government to take further
steps in the area of reconciliation as recommended by the LLRC. He said
that the UK has genuinely helped the development, reconstruction and the
de-mining efforts of the country. The High Commissioner said one of the
reasons why UK companies are investing in Sri Lanka is due to human
capital particularly in IT sector.
UNDP Resident Representative Subinay Nandy said Sri Lanka has made a
tremendous progress in terms of infrastructure development in the North
and East.
Executive Director of the Centre for Poverty Analysis Priyanthi
Fernando and Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda were
also among the panelists while former Director, Economic Affairs,
Commonwealth Secretariat Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy was the moderator.
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