The Conflict has ended. Peace and development are most valuable. The progress achieved by Sri Lanka after ending the conflict is laudable. These observations have been made by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot.
The Australian Prime Minister who arrived in the country to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting had bilateral discussions with President Rajapaksa at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Convention Centre in Colombo. Tony Abbot said that first of all he wished to express his gratitude to President Rajapaksa to the support extended to Australia in the human smuggling racket.
Explaining with regard to the reconciliation and rehabilitation process the President said that although it was an issue for the release of more than 14 thousand LTTE cadres who were trained as suicide bombers, it was possible to rehabilitate them and integrate them into society within a short period. The President also told the Australian Prime Minister that the Government was also able to hand over the child soldiers to their parents within several months since ending the conflict.
Tony Abbot said that no one should be in a hurry in delivering judgments. Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris clarified briefly the plan crafted to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and the task discharged by the Commission. President’s Secretary clarified the programme launched to grant jobs to young graduates of the North.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Gorden Darsey Lilo before leaving the country after participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, had bilateral discussions with President Rajapaksa at the Water’s Edge Hotel. He expressed his gratitude to the President for sending a team of officials to his country to establish financial institutions. He requested whatever assistance possible from the President for the development of the country. Positively responding to his appeal, the President said that further studies should be conducted on the trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. Foreign and External Trade Minister of the Solomon Islands Forazu Soyelai, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Supervision MP of the External Affairs Ministry Sajin Vass Gunawardena, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge, Foreign Secretary Karunatilake Amunugama and Presidential Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath were among those present at these talks.
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