President at Seychelles National Assembly:

Banished colonialism making return in different guises

While we are trying to bring about national reconciliation and economic development, we are not without post-conflict challenges.

Interested parties endeavour to undermine our victory over terrorism and humiliate us in the international scene. We count on the valuable and continued support and understanding of friendly nations such as the Seychelles, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

“Modern international relations are marred by self-interest of the states and their struggle for power,” he said.

“We feel that the very colonialism that we had fought and freed ourselves from a few decades ago is making a comeback in a different form in today’s global scenario.

New power blocks are emerging, states are intervening in the affairs of other states

using their strength and the past seems to be re-surfacing,” President Rajapaksa said.

The President on a two day state visit to the Republic of Seychelles addressing the country’s National Assembly on Sunday at an Extraordinary Sitting said it has been decades since both Africa and Sri Lanka have freed themselves from the shackles of colonialism and oppression.

“The walk to freedom was long and full of obstacles. When looking back at the past, we can see that we were united in our struggle against colonialism. We rallied together genuinely irrespective of our differences in size, political or military power and economic strength for a common cause. That is to gain independence and bring prosperity to our nations,” the President added.

The welcome remarks were made by National Assembly Speaker Dr. Patrick Herminie. Following the President’s address, the Leader of Government Business addressed the National Assembly. The concluding remarks were made by the Leader of Opposition. Dr. Herminie welcoming the President said the Seychelles legislature is greatly graced by the presence of President Rajapaksa, a man widely renown as a champion of freedom, peace and stability.

He commended President Rajapaksa for his political strength, courage and determination to protect the integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. The Speaker said he saw firsthand the rapid development Sri Lanka had gone through over the last four years when he visited Sri Lanka in 2012. “I was particularly amazed by the transformation of the Northern part of Sri Lanka which bore the brunt of the civil war. It also bears testimony of your vision of long-lasting national reconciliation, a prerequisite for the economic growth of Sri Lanka,” the Speaker added.

Recalling his visit to Sri Lanka to attend the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, the Opposition Leader, David Pierre, said he was not only impressed with the beauty of Sri Lanka but also the will of the Sri Lankan government and President Rajapaksa’s high personal level of commitment to improve democracy as well as to improve the living standards of the people in the country.

“Today the world wants peace and prosperity for all nations and Sri Lanka is doing its fair share... By being the oldest democracy in South Asia I am convinced that the sharing of your experience in democracy with us, will greatly help Seychelles in its attempt to improve its democratic standard to become one of a complete democracy,” he further said.

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