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| | Archives Sep-Oct 2009 |
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Observations of the Government of Sri Lanka on EU GSP Plus Report
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Sri Lanka’s IDP Centres Population Drops Dramatically in October as Resettlements Continue
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The number of conflict-displaced people in northern Sri Lanka
dropped dramatically in recent weeks to about 157,000,
compared to about 288,000 in June, the government reported.
Additionally, another 60,000 people are slated to go home
over the next few weeks, the government said. The majority
of the IDPs will be resettled by end of this year,
according Mahinda Samarasinghe,
Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights.
Read more...
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Foreign Minister Briefs Diplomatic Corps on the Progress Made by the GoSL on Resettling IDPs
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“The latest phase of resettlement commenced on 15th October,
under the supervision of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa. Since then, 108,757
have been resettled as of 3rd November 2009, and those remaining,
numbering to about 158,990 are awaiting resettlement in the coming weeks.
You would agree that this became possible only after the demining process was
completed in these areas where the people were resettled”said Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama while addressing the Diplomatic Corps based
in Colombo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 05th November 2009.
Read more...
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Friends of Sri Lanka rally in support of Sri Lankan trade with Europe
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The ’Friends of Sri Lanka’ in the European Parliament thwarted moves by some MEPs
to seek suspend Sri Lanka’s GSP+ trade status in a hurriedly moved Urgency Resolution
debated in Strasbourg on Thursday (22 October). The resolution was initiated against
the backdrop of a report by the European Commission on Sri Lanka’s GSP+ status, which
was released on Monday (19 October) and which concluded that Sri Lanka had fallen
short in the effective implementation of some of the UN conventions relevant to the
scheme. Whilst direct reference to GSP+ was removed, the resolution still
emphasized the importance that trade would play in Sri Lankan reconstruction.
Mr. Geoffrey Van Orden MEP,
Chairman of the ’Friends of Sri Lanka’ group,
who participated I the inter-party negotiations on the compromise urgency text, ,
said; “the Friends of Sri Lanka have consistently advocated that it is trade, not aid,
that provides the best route to economic recovery and improvement” He also called on the
European Commission to reconsider its findings on Sri Lanka’s GSP+ status and urged
the Sri Lanka government to engage with the Commission on issues of concern.
Read more...
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GOSL Reaction on US State Department Report to the US Congress on Sri Lanka
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The United States has forwarded to the Sri Lanka authorities a document captioned
Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka, which contains a report
from the US State Department to the Appropriations Committees of the US Congress.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka wishes to point out in
this regard that the document relates to a period when the Security
Forces of Sri Lanka were engaged in a humanitarian mission through
operations in the North and in the East of the island, to free the members
of the Tamil community and the members of other communities living in
those areas, from the clutches of the terror of the LTTE. The great
relief with which the populace in those areas greeted the success of the
operations was manifest when, within the space of a few days between the end of
April and the start of May this year hundreds of thousands of men, women
and children who were being used as human shields by the LTTE, escaped towards the security
afforded by the Armed Forces, once the Army breached the LTTE lines.
Read more...
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| | | GoSL reaction to the GSP+ Report of the European Commission
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“The European Commission (EC) on Monday 19 October 2009 handed over to the Government
of Sri Lanka (GoSL) its report on Sri Lanka’s implementation of 3 of the 27 UN Conventions
relevant to its GSP+ benefits that were of concern to the EC.
The Note from the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission forwarding the EC
Report to the Mission of Sri Lanka in Brussels stated “the Commission will now decide whether
to propose a temporary withdrawal of the special incentive arrangement for sustainable
development and good governance provided for under Council Regulation (EC) No. 732/2008”.
The Note goes on to add “if the Government of Sri Lanka wishes to make any representations
on this matter or specifically in relation to the Commission Report in annex,
it is kindly requested to bring these to
the Commission’s attention no later than 6 November 2009 ...”.
Read more...
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| | | “Asia should focus on our inherent strengths” – President Rajapaksa
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“Our economies are today facing hardship due to the problems caused by
others who should share the burdens of recovery. The countries of Asia,
and many others, too, are today carrying the burdens caused by poor
regulation and the encouraging of greed in the dominant economies
of the West. It is a challenge that seeks new solutions. We need
to turn this challenge into an opportunity by expanding intra-regional
trade and the influence of our financial markets. Such measures will
not only strengthen our competitiveness but will also help us to build
valuable partnerships with other regions, for the purpose of contributing
to global economic well-being… Asia should focus on our inherent strengths,
which are considerable and can point the way to the future we seek” These
observations were made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa while delivering
the Keynote Address at the inauguration of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue
8th Ministerial Meeting at the BMICH on 15th October 2009.
Read more...
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Seva Vanita - Seva Vanita Association in Belgium hosts a charity luncheon
Place this between
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The Seva Vanita Association in Belgium hosted a charity luncheon on 04 October
2009 with the participation of many Sri Lankans and Belgians. Mr. Geoffrey
Van Orden MEP, the President of the Friends
of Sri Lanka Group of the European Parliament participated in this event as the Guest of Honour.
Read more...
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| | | ’Sri Lanka: Facets of Post-Conflict Development’ Photographic Exhibition
inaugurated at the European Parliament
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Chairman of the Northern Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security
in the Northern Province and Senior Adviser to the President Basil Rajapaksa, MP,
together with the Vice-President of the European Parliament Dr. Libor Rouček, inaugurated
a photographic exhibition titled ’Sri Lanka: Facets of Post-conflict Development’ at the European
Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday (30 September). The exhibition was conceptualized and organized
by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels, with the sponsorship of Mrs. Elisabetta Gardini, MEP and the
’Friends of Sri Lanka’ group in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament, members
of the diplomatic corps from EU member countries and SAARC, officials of the European institutions
and a representative gathering of Sri Lankans living in
Belgium and friends of Sri Lanka, participated in the event.
Read more...
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| | | Sri Lanka urges not to use the displaced persons in Sri Lanka as a political tool
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Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, Ravinatha
Aryasinha has urged that the displaced persons in Sri Lanka be not used as
a political tool, but instead that those being critical, step up and help the
Government to overcome the difficulties faced in looking after them and re-settling them.
He said “these are our people, successive governments fed them, provided medicines, ensured education
through the 30 years when the LTTE dominated their lives. We will ensure that they get back to their
homes in safety, not because anybody
tells us to do so, but because we want them to do so”.
Read more...
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| | | “UN should not interfere in the internal affairs of States” - Prime Minister at UN General Assembly |
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“Multilateralism is not about the UN agenda responding only to the demands of a minority of
powerful States, but also defending the interest of the powerless majority. It is also
imperative that the prohibition reflected in the Article 2 (7) of the Charter that the UN
should not interfere in the internal affairs of States be respected,” said Prime Minister
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake addressing the 64th Session of the
United Nations General Assembly in New York (Sept. 26).
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said: “Today,
we have entered a forward-looking, post-conflict phase,
recognizing at the same time the urgent need to deal with the
scars and unresolved challenges of the past. In our unique victory
in defeating terrorism, we are grateful for the assistance, encouragement
and co-operation extended to us by friendly countries; and we seek similar
understanding in making a steady and stable transition from ending
conflict to ensuring lasting peace and security”.
Sri Lanka is committed to complying with its international obligations
in the field of human rights and humanitarian standards. Sri Lanka
will undertake further domestic measures aimed at reconciliation and
in the light of lessons learnt. In less than three months after the conflict,
in August 2009, we have made significant progress, he said.
Read more...
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| | | ’RESURGENCE OF LTTE MUST BE PREVENTED’- PRIME MINISTER TO ASIA SOCIETY
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Rebuilding Sri Lanka after 25 years of war will, among other things, require preventing a
resurgence of the LTTE, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri
Wickremanayake addressing at the Asia Society in New York last night.
“Sri Lanka suffered for almost three decades of destruction from
terrorism by the LTTE,” Prime Minister said. Despite victory,
he said, “residual effects and related problems remain.”
Speaking at Asia Society, the prime minister said resettling internally displaced
persons (IDPs) is the country’s largest post-war challenge.
However, he made clear that a full resettlement
will take time. “You cannot have a solution overnight,” he stressed.
Full Release
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| | | You have better story than is getting out today
– Pascoe to President
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Sri Lanka has a better story than is getting out to the world on matters of
concern to the United Nations such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),
Human rights and Post Conflict Development was the view of B. Lynn Pascoe, United
Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs,
following his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier today.
Mr. Pascoe met the President after visiting Vavuniya and other
areas of the North to get a first hand view ongoing de-mining,
resettlement of IDPs and the IDP relief villages of Menik Farm.
He expressed satisfaction at the progress being made on de-mining
especially with the use of new imported equipments
to speed up the process and assured of more UN assistance in this regard.
Read more...
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| | | Iftar - Iftar Celebrations in Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels
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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium jointly with the Sri Lankan expatriates
and other well wishers have held the annual Iftar Ceremony
(breaking fast of Muslims observing the Ramadan fast)
at the Embassy premises on 11 September, 2009.
Read more...
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| | | Sri Lanka calls for an unqualified apology from Channel 4
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Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe addressing
Colombo based diplomats on 10th September to apprise them of the bogus Channel 4
video footage has said, in the face of scientific and expert evidence proving that
the video clip was a doctored one the Government expects Channel 4 to rebut the evidence
or publish an apology for their unprofessional conduct that has been grossly detrimental
to the image of Sri Lanka
Those who made presentations to the diplomats at the Presidential Secretariat
were agreed that the Channel 4 video was a doctored image not made on a mobile phone,
as claimed, but on a more sophisticated camcorder or video recorder.
Minister Samarasinghe also said that it was highly unprofessional for Channel 4 News
to have aired the video sent by a hitherto unknown organization named Journalists
for Democracy in Sri Lanka, which came to the public notice only
with its first blog on the internet in August 2009 and a Press Release the previous month.
Read more...
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