Sri Lanka – Myanmar jointly renounce terrorism and reaffirm the commitment for economic cooperation

(August 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Second Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Sri Lanka and Myanmar was held in Colombo on 4th August 2009, preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting (SoM) held on 3rd August 2009. The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and the Myanmar delegation by U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

The Joint Commission between Sri Lanka and the Union of Myanmar was established pursuant to the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation which was signed on 1st February 1996. The first Meeting of the Joint Commission was held on 10th and 11th July 2007 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, in his opening remarks stated that he was pleased to host the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission as a follow up on the successfully concluded State visit of the President of Sri Lanka to Myanmar in June 2009.

In response, Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission and recalled the warm and friendly bilateral relations that have existed for centuries between the two countries and made a special reference to the recent State visit of the President to Myanmar. Both delegations acknowledged that the recently concluded visit by the President of Sri Lanka to Myanmar had paved the way to take the bilateral relationship to a new dimension.

The Myanmar side acknowledged with thanks the stand taken by the Government of Sri Lanka on Myanmar during the ASEAN Regional Cooperation Meeting (ARF) in Phuket, Thailand and recalled with satisfaction the substantive bilateral discussions held on the sidelines of the ARF.

Sri Lanka side informed the Myanmar side that despite the military defeat of LTTE in Sri Lanka, the activities of the LTTE network overseas, including its front organizations and pro-LTTE groups, continue to be active and emphasized the need to neutralize the LTTE’s terrorist network overseas.

Both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expressed their views on continuing joint and separate actions to curb this menace which is a threat to regional peace and security and an obstacle to regional cooperation. The two sides agreed to cooperate both bilaterally and at regional and multilateral fora in this regard in particular at the UN, Shangri-la Dialogue, BIMSTEC and ARF.

The Myanmar side also reaffirmed its Government policy of not allowing any group or individual to use its territory for hostile acts against Sri Lanka. Both sides expressed that taking measures against such activity on its territory would be coordinated through relevant agencies.

Both sides recalled that Sri Lanka and Myanmar have shared common platforms at many international and regional fora. e.g. UN, Colombo Plan, Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and in the year 2008, Myanmar gained ‘Observer’ status at SAARC. Sri Lanka welcomed Myanmar into the family of South Asia and expressed optimism that this move would pave the way for improved bilateral and regional connections.

Sri Lanka side expressed the view that lack of direct sea and air links hampered trade between the two countries. The two sides agreed to seek the possibility to remove existing trade barriers in order to promote bilateral trade. The Sri Lanka side requested the Myanmar side to provide a favourable solution to the currency problem by exploring the possibility of introducing Asian currency units. Both sides agreed to seek the possible establishment of a working group at senior officials level to explore the subsequent setting up a Committee study the current barriers to trade and to propose remedies.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama invited Myanmar business community to explore possibilities of investing in Sri Lanka taking advantage of the benefits granted under Sri Lanka’s bilateral Free Trade Agreements with India and Pakistan.

He also welcomed the business delegation from Myanmar Chamber of Commerce that is currently visiting Sri Lanka and acknowledged such visits as a welcome beginning for further development of trade and investment between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama noted that in view of the close affinity of culture and religion, there is much potential for promoting and marketing cultural tourism and Buddhist pilgrimage tours between the two countries. Both sides agreed to encourage tour operators in their respective countries to develop single or twin destination Buddhist religious tour package for the benefit of Pilgrim travellers. It was also noted that the lack of direct air links between the two countries is the main hindrance in promoting this sector.

Both sides agreed that the MoU on Tourism which was signed during the recent State visit of H.E. the President of Sri Lanka, will be a new chapter in tourism related activities.

Foreign Minister Bogollagma thanked the Government of Myanmar for its decision to donate a tusker to Sri Lanka and also recalled with gratitude the earlier donation of two tuskers to the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.

Both sides recalled the MoU on Cultural Cooperation signed between the two countries in 2007. The Sri Lanka side agreed to draw up a work plan for the implementation of the MoU and to exchange experts in the field of conservation, preservation and restoration of monuments and museum personnel.

The visiting Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, also called on the President.

Thereafter, the Myanmar Foreign Minister and the delegation will visit Kandy to view the Kandy Esala Perehera.

The next Joint Commission between Sri Lanka and Myanmar will be held in 2011 in Myanmar.

-Sri Lanka Guardian