EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA
COUNTRY INFORMATION UPDATE
JULY 16, 2010

PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA PROPOSES AN EXECUTIVE PREMIER HEAD OF STATE RESPONSIBLE TO PARLIAMENT

Constitutional Change Required

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proposed that Sri Lanka adopt a new national leadership position of an Executive Premier who would be responsible to Parliament through a Constitutional amendment at a future date.

President Rajapaksa was of the opinion that the Constitution should not be amended for personal reasons as it is essential to do so under a definite vision.

He said the present Executive Presidency has been created as a lone post and that it should be transformed into that of a Head of State who would be responsible to and would co-operate with the Parliament.

From 1948, when it gained independence from Britain, until 1978, Sri Lanka had a prime minister and parliamentary government similar to the British system.

Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena and Basil Rajapaksa explained to the UNP delegation the basis on which the forthcoming Local Government elections could be held. The two sides also discussed the issue of empowering the statutory bodies under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. They agreed to empower these bodies and accepted that officials appointed to them should be responsible to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Both sides agreed on the necessity of a stable Government and agreed that a future Constitutional reform should ensure such stability. They also agreed to implement the decisions taken through a committee comprising representatives of both sides.

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MINISTER G. L. PEIRIS MEETS WITH EU AMBASSADOR AND REPRESENTATIVES OF EU MEMBER STATES ON GSP+

The Minister for External Affairs G.L. Peiris met today with the Heads of Missions/Representatives of EU Member States and the European Union in order to discuss matters relating to the future of the EU GSP+ process. The Deputy Minister for External Affairs Gitanjana Gunawardena was also associated with the discussions.

The Minister stated that on 24th June 2010, following a discussion in the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a comprehensive response to the letter of 17th June 2010 from the European Commission. The Statement of 24th June 2010 detailed the reasoning behind the GoSL decision to reject the unacceptable conditions and deadlines stated in the letter dated 17th June 2010. The Minister further reiterated that over the past several months, the GoSL had engaged in what it believed was a constructive process of dialogue with the European Commission relating the continuation of GSP+ benefits for the people of Sri Lanka. During this process, the Government had shared with the Commission the significant progressive steps it had taken relating to, inter alia, human rights, child soldiers, emergency regulations and welfare of IDPs as they related to the GSP+ process. In a spirit of open discussion, the Government had also informed the Commission that revoking certain limited measures essential for public safety and national security could not be considered in the present context in Sri Lanka and could be re-considered at a later date. It was against this background that the GoSL was taken by surprise by the further conditions, and the deadlines stipulated in the letter dated 17th June 2010 by the European Commission.

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“SRI LANKA REAFFIRMS DIALOGUE AS WAY FORWARD”

The attention of the Ministry of External Affairs has been drawn to the Statement made in New York on 8th July and attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Statement claims that the Sri Lanka authorities have failed to prevent the disruption of the normal functioning of the United Nations Offices in Colombo.

The Ministry of External Affairs wishes to categorically emphasize that throughout the situation, the Government of Sri Lanka has looked after the safety of the United Nations premises. The demonstrations taking place outside have not resulted in harm to anyone. Access has continued to be afforded to the premises, through the facilitation of the movement of persons wishing to enter or exit.

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SRI LANKA: FROM WAR TO RECONCILIATION
By Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States

Just one year ago, Sri Lanka prevailed in its decades-long war on terrorism, a victory that promises an era of reconciliation and prosperity in my country. Over the past month, senior U.S. officials have praised Sri Lanka’s journey from war to peace. White House advisers visiting Colombo expressed President Obama’s admiration for the Sri Lanka’s defeat of terrorism. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted Sri Lanka’s successful rebuilding efforts. Most important, the secretary endorsed Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission, an independent panel tasked with the authority to investigate alleged abuses during the last stages of the war on terror. The commission “holds promise” and “the steps that have been taken by the Sri Lanka government are commendable and we are supporting that effort,” the secretary of state said after a recent meeting with Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris.

I want to thank the Obama administration for its encouragement of our efforts and its appreciation of Sri Lanka’s accomplishments over the past 12 months. As the secretary stated, Sri Lanka and the United States “share a history of democratic institutions.” I hope other nations will also take note of Sri Lanka’s accomplishments.
We understand that military victory is not the end but a beginning. We believe the victory over terrorism can usher in a new era of peace, reconciliation and prosperity. Despite much of the world’s focus on Sri Lanka’s past, Sri Lanka’s future is now.

We have no intention of squandering Sri Lanka’s peace dividend. In fact, Sri Lanka has experienced a "sea change" that defines our nation’s economic potential. While the world economy remains in a slump, Sri Lanka expects a growth rate of close to 7 percent this year and higher in 2011. Inflation is down from a high of almost 29 percent in June 2008 to roughly 4 percent this year. Trade barriers are being reduced. Import duties on automobiles and other consumer good have been slashed to spark economic activity.

We are determined that the peace dividend reach all Sri Lankans by spreading economic development throughout the island. Approximately $6 billion is being dedicated to spending on Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, including new roads, ports, a new international airport and the construction of enough coal and hydroelectric power plants that electricity will soon reach every Sri Lankan.

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STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SRI LANKA – PANEL OF EXPERTS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

The Government of Sri Lanka strongly opposes the appointment, by the Secretary General of the United Nations, of the Sri Lanka – Panel of Experts announced by his Spokesperson in New York on Tuesday, 22nd June 2010.

Sri Lanka was ravaged by the scourge of terrorism for over 30 years. The people of Sri Lanka have, during this period, suffered violence and terror of unimaginable proportions, unleashed on them by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world. After a long and difficult struggle the Government of Sri Lanka has successfully rid the country of terror, and is in the process of rebuilding the lives of her people. As an important part of this process His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka has appointed a Commission on “Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation” under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, a statutory regime available under Sri Lankan law. The Government is confident that the Commission would make a most significant contribution to the further strengthening of national amity, through a process of restorative justice.

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SRI LANKA EMBASSY IN USA HERALDS FIRST ICC CRICKET MATCH IN AMERICA FEATURING SRI LANKAN NATIONAL TEAM

Historic Match in the U.S. Marks Launch of Cricket Diplomacy

The Sri Lankan Cricket Team is pictured with the Embassy of Sri Lanka, USA staff at the start of a dinner honoring the team.

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya welcomes the 400 dinner guests for the Gala dinner with the Sri Lanka Cricket Team.

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya meets with Sri Lankan cricket fans at the Lauderhill, Florida cricket grounds as the Sri Lanka Cricket team defeats New Zealand on May 23, 2010.

Sri Lankan Cricket Team captain Kumar Sangakkara tells the dinner audience how cricket can play a vital role in healing the wounds of conflict in Sri Lanka.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., -- Members of the Sri Lankan National Cricket Team were guests of honor at a May 22 charity dinner for nearly 400 people co-hosted by the Sri Lankan Development foundation and Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States.

The dinner was the highpoint of a historic cricket weekend, when two teams - Sri Lanka and New Zealand - played two cricket games in the first-ever International Cricket Council match in the United States.

Nearly 5,000 people attended the two matches at the cricket grounds at the Central Broward County Regional Park in nearby Lauderhill, Fla. Sri Lanka lost the May 22 opening game to New Zealand, but stormed back on May 23 to take a decisive victory.

During a Sunday, May 23 awards ceremony, the two teams shared the Pearls Cup trophy.

County officials said it was the largest crowd so far for the stadium.

Some Sri Lankans flew in for the matches from across the United States and Canada. Others drove hours to be part of the historic event.

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U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON EXPRESSES STRONG SUPPORT, OPTIMISM FOR SRI LANKA

The U.S., she says, fully supports Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learned
and Reconciliation Commission

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomes G.L. Peiris, Sri Lanka's Minister of External Affairs, to the U.S. Department of State for a meeting Friday.

Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talk to reporters after their meeting at the U.S. Department of State Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris (center) and Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the U.S., confer Friday at the U.S. Department of State.

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered strong support Friday for Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild after a successful 25-year struggle against terrorism.

Following a meeting with Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary Clinton praised the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to establish a Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission to examine conduct at the conflict’s conclusion.

"The United States strongly supports political and ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka,” Secretary Clinton said. “Such commissions of inquiry have played an important role in advancing accountability and redressing wrongs in other countries emerging from periods of internal strife.

“I think the steps that have been taken by the Sri Lankan Government are commendable and we are supporting that effort.”

The cordial meeting was the first for Prof. Peiris, the Minister of External Affairs, with the U.S. Secretary of State. The United States is Sri Lanka’s largest export trading partner, and it continues to provide humanitarian assistance and development aid to Sri Lanka.

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MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS PROFESSOR G.L. PEIRIS'S INTERVIEW WITH
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH