4-D development in North - Ambassador

Philip Fernando

Addressing the prestigious World Affairs Council in Los Angeles Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya said Sri Lanka will rebuild the North by using a plan that worked well in our Eastern Province. We call it the four Ds. That stands for: De-mining, De-militarization. Democracy and Development. He added we would love for Democracy to be at the top of that list.

He said that machinery of war must first be dismantled to make sure that the fighting never returns. We have before us the hard work of removing mines and disarming. Sri Lanka will then begin the work of democracy, bringing the rule of law to places where violence was customary.

We did this already in the East. He added that in that province, free and fair elections were held in May 2008. Five council ministers were elected - two Tamils, two Muslims and one Sinhalese. One former child soldier and former LTTE regional leader, who came forth for democracy was even chosen as the Eastern Province Chief Minister, he said.

The Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa has also sought to include Tamil leaders - there are now 12 Tamil ministers in office. Earlier this month, the Government even appointed a former top LTTE deputy as a minister.