Minister Bogollagama briefs Indian counterpart on developments in Sri Lanka

(October 02, New York, Sri Lanka Guardian) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama met with the External Affairs Minister of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, and discussed several issues of bilateral interest, on the sidelines of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday, (1st October 2008).

Minister Bogollagama outlined the developments in the North of Sri Lanka, in particular the ongoing operations by the security forces to free the civilians in the Vanni from LTTE control, as was successfully accomplished in the Eastern Province. The Minister emphasized that the Government would take every precaution to avoid civilian casualties and that the decision to relocate humanitarian workers in Vavuniya, a new hub for humanitarian operations, which is not far from Kilinochchi, is part of this considered effort. Moreover, this relocation process was conducted in consultation with, and with the concurrence of the Humanitarian Agencies. The Minister also stated that adequate humanitarian supplies are being provided through the Government Agents for the displaced people in the North, with hundreds of truck loads of supplies being dispatched to the Vanni.

Referring to the action taken by the Government in restoring democracy in the Eastern Province in the immediate aftermath of clearing the area from LTTE control, the Minister said that the priority now is to focus on development activities in the East, including rehabilitating the agriculture sector which had been abandoned over the years. A development programme, valued at US$ 1.8 billion is being implemented in the East.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama also briefed his counterpart on the steps being taken, with a view to devolving substantial powers to the Northern and Eastern Provinces in accordance with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. He noted that the Government is awaiting further recommendations in this regard from the All Party Representative Committee (APRC). Meanwhile, the Government under the direction of President Rajapaksa has already implemented several of the key recommendations of the Interim Report of the APRC, including promotion of the use of the Tamil language and recruitment of Tamil speaking persons to the police service in the Eastern Province.

In the discussion on the safety of civilians engaged in fisheries activities in the waters between India and Sri Lanka, the two Ministers agreed on the need for a joint action plan, including coordinated patrolling by the coast guard, to prevent any future incidents affecting the safety of fishermen.

The two Ministers also discussed the convening of the India–Sri Lanka Joint Commission this year and the forthcoming BIMSTEC meeting.

The Minister of External Affairs Shri Mukherjee appreciated the excellent hospitality extended to the Indian delegation during the SAARC Summit in Colombo and for hosting the Informal Meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers on the fringes of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. - Sri Lanka Guardian