Australian Foreign Minister condemns attack on two Sri Lankans in Australia

(May 21, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith has condemned the recent unprovoked attack by a gang of thugs on two Sri Lankan young men in which both had been badly injured. The Minister said that the local police investigation is being overseen by a Special Central Unit. He made these observations when he telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart, Rohitha Bogollagama today (21 May 2009) and exchanged views on developments following the defeat of LTTE terrorism in the country. Minister Bogollagama appreciated the strong condemnation of this incident by the Australian Government contained in a Statement issued by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans.

The Australian Foreign Minister informed Minister Bogollagama that Australia was increasing its assistance to the humanitarian relief programme for the IDPs in the North by a sum of A$ 10 million. He noted that Australia is a longstanding friend of Sri Lanka was keen that a durable political settlement is found, in order to bring about lasting peace and security in the country. Australia is also concerned about the welfare of the large number of IDPs who have fled the former conflict zone and are now being accommodated in various IDP centres and welfare villages. Hence, he hoped that the additional sum of money that Australia has pledged would help in the humanitarian relief efforts.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama while expressing his appreciation for the Australian Government’s additional aid pledged to the UN System, pointed out that if assistance could be made available bilaterally, such aid would reach the beneficiaries more quickly, avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic delays. Minister Smith responding positively stated that he would explore this request to channel Australian assistance for capacity building and humanitarian relief operation at the bilateral level.

Minister Bogollagama giving a comprehensive briefing to Minister Smith on the new developments in the post-conflict phase, referred to the address to the nation by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 19 May wherein the President unequivocally stated that the Government had removed the word “minorities” from the Sri Lankan agenda three years ago. All citizens of Sri Lanka have equal rights and the Government was determined to ensure that the Tamil people, particularly in the North who have been subjected to the brutal reign of terror of the LTTE, are once again able to enjoy the fruits of democracy. He also pointed out that critics of the Sri Lankan Government abroad who had warned of an imminent bloodbath and a humanitarian catastrophe in the days leading to the final phase of the security forces’ humanitarian mission to rescue the civilians held as human shields by the LTTE in the former no-fire zone (NFZ), have now being effectively silenced.

The Minister said that all LTTE combatants who had been captured or surrendered to the Government forces are now being put through a comprehensive year long rehabilitation programme under the aegis of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. He also said that the President has declared that henceforth, para military groups will not be permitted to operate on Sri Lankan territory.

While appreciating the Australian Foreign Minister for his continued interest in Sri Lanka, Minister Bogollagama invited him to visit Sri Lanka to have a firsthand look, which would enable him to gain a better perspective of the ground situation. Minister Smith thanked the Sri Lankan Minister for the invitation to visit Sri Lanka and stated that he look forward to doing so at an early date.

-Sri Lanka Guardian