The Indian Foreign Secretary Shrimathi Nirupama Rao who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa today congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential Election, said she observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.

“Act in keeping with principles of UN Charter on non-interference” 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out that the intention of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice him (i.e. the SG) on Sri Lanka is totally uncalled for and unwarranted.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama summoned the British Acting High Commissioner in Colombo Mark Gooding to the Foreign Ministry today to express Sri Lanka’s strong protest with regard to the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband’s intent to address the London Conference of the pro-LTTE ‘Global Tamil Forum’ (GTF) today (24/2).  The Foreign Minister informed the Acting High Commissioner that the GTF brings together under one umbrella, several LTTE front organizations based mostly in the western countries, and that its objective is to create a separate state of Tamil Eelam.  The Foreign Minister in this context emphasized that Foreign Secretary Miliband, by participating at today’s GTF Meeting in London, would unfortunately lend credibility to an organization which is propagating the separatist agenda of the LTTE, and would be acting in a manner inimical to the national interest of Sri Lanka and its legitimate government.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, who is on a two day visit to Sri Lanka from 18-19 February 2010, met with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Foreign Ministry on 18th February 2010. In keeping with SAARC tradition, the Foreign Minister of Bhutan is scheduled to call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa who currently holds the Chair of SAARC, on 19 February, to hand over an invitation from the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigme Yoser Thinley, for the 16th SAARC Summit which will be held in Thimphu from 28-29 April 2010.

UK’s Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Dr. Liam Fox held discussions with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (17.02.2010). They held discussion on a wide range of issues including post conflict development, the recent decision by the EU on the GSP+ and the setting up of a special fund by Dr. Fox to assist in the post conflict development of Sri Lanka.

Responding to the EU’s decision to temporarily suspend the GSP+ trade concessions to Sri Lanka in 6 months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo in a statement issued on 16 February 2010 said “Sri Lanka values her longstanding relations with the EU” and “will therefore continue her engagement with the EU in the upcoming 6 months with a view to sensitizing the European side through a constructive dialogue, concerning both the rapid, demonstrable and sustainable progress that has been gained since the end of the conflict situation, as well as the further steps that would be taken in that direction.“ 

The statement expressed confidence “that the EU and its Member States would, during the process of engagement, pay due attention to the manifold challenges yet faced by Sri Lanka” and was hopeful that this “would result in the timely reversal of the temporary suspension, thereby enabling the people of Sri Lanka to continue to draw on the GSP+ facility for their economic empowerment, including for the post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation of the North and of the East”.   

Full text of the statement:

Excellencies, 

Distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps and of the UN and 

other International Organizations, 

Ladies & gentlemen,  

I thank you for your presence at this diplomatic briefing.  Sri Lanka as a democratic nation is committed to transparency and believes in the importance of always sharing with our friends and partners overseas, the facts and considerations behind any noteworthy development in our country.

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, met with Navanetham Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the Palais Wilson in Geneva on Tuesday (09). The Minister, who was accompanied by Attorney General Mohan Peiris, PC, and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN at Geneva, Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne, briefed High Commissioner Pillay, on the progress achieved in developing a National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (NAP) in Sri Lanka. Noting that the NAP was the outcome of a pledge made in 2008 at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council, he outlined the process to date and also the next steps contemplated towards finalization of the first draft Action Plan.

Today we celebrate the anniversary of Independence after the liberation of the entire country from terrorist threat for the first time in 30 years. I am proud to proclaim that we are in a position to raise the flag of Sri Lanka with dignity in the entire country.

In 1815, Variyapola Sumangala Thero hoisted our flag on this historic land after lowering the Union Jack. I wish to pay my respect to the venerable monks as well as the revered clergy of all religions for their dedication and commitment displayed to preserve this freedom.

The 62nd anniversary of independence we mark today has special significance being the first such celebration of our freedom since the defeat of terrorism in our country last year, and also as it takes place soon after  our people have expressed their firm and resounding commitment to democracy.

Freedom is desired by all living beings.

Sri Lanka enriched by Buddhist values, is a nation which gives importance to the freedom of the individual. 

Inhumane acts of a few in the society violate the freedom of the entire society. The value of freedom is deeply felt when it is lost, more than when it is enjoyed.

Rising from the shackles of colonialism 62 years ago and annihilating an almost three decade long grip of terrorism from our shores eight months ago, we celebrate this anniversary of Independence in 2010, with a great sense of oneness and pride.  Nearly half of our country’s contemporary independent history has witnessed a struggle against the brutal forces of terrorism which sought to tear asunder the very sovereignty of our great nation gained by our forefathers.

PAST	PRESENT

Exactly 53 years after the first journey of the "Yal Devi", the popular train to Jaffna, the government of Sri Lanka launched, on 23 March 2009, the “Uthuru Mithuru” Yal Devi Friendship Rail Track Reconstruction Project to rebuild the North-South railway line. 

The line, which was permanently closed in 13 June 1990 following disruption and intermittent severance of linkages by terrorists, is now undergoing reconstruction to restore the rail connectivity between the Northern Province and the existing railway grid.  The project currently involves the laying down of rail track between Vavuniya and Kankesanthurai, as well the rebuilding of 27 railway stations.

Statement following the election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a second term  

President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a historic and resounding victory in the Presidential Election held yesterday (26), the first free and fair election in which the entire country could participate  in nearly three decades, and also the first such election since the defeat of terrorism in Sri Lanka in May last year.   

The people of Sri Lanka have spoken and they have voted for an end to division, an end to terrorism, and for a new beginning of peace and prosperity.

Having restored peace to the country after 30 years of terrorism, the Government of Sri Lanka is wholly committed to a free and democratic election in every part of the country, the government said in a statement issued today (Jan 24). 

"The Sri Lanka Government calls for a peaceful election, and stands committed to taking whatever steps deemed necessary to ensure the same," the statement further said.

Full text of the statement:

Sri Lanka ranked among the Top Ten Fastest Economies, being eighth in the world according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of United States.

As the global economy would emerge in the recession, it is envisaged that Sri Lanka would record a 6.3 percent GDP growth rate that is second only to China, which will record a 8.6 percent in the Asian region. The improvement in 2010 is that the world will emerge from recession and post crisis economic landscape will become clearer. This will pave the way to achieve a higher growth of about seven to nine percent in the medium term, said the Ministry of Finance and Planning, quoting the EIU.

Jan 20, Colombo: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed an agreement with a major farmer society in Batticaloa District of the Eastern Province to expand the milk production in the East and raise the incomes of 1,200 participating farmers.

Sri Lanka

For a quarter century, Sri Lanka seems to have been plagued by misfortune, including a brutal civil war between the Sinhalese-dominated government and a separatist Tamil group. But the conflict finally ended last May, ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop-shaped island off India’s coast, rich in natural beauty and cultural splendors.

Responding to the statement made by UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Prof. Philip Alston, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the conduct of Mr. Alston was a breach of diplomatic procedures and also in violation of all UN procedures. The Minister charged that the Special Rapporteur had ignored the very findings of his experts The Sri Lanka Government will firmly resist any endeavour negative to her interests posed from any quarter. Also the GOSL remains committed to continued engagement and dialogue with the UN, including on matters relating to the further protection and preservation of human rights.

Our strategy of development in the new decade beginning today will seek to make Sri Lanka the South Asian hub of ocean and air traffic, and communications in a knowledge - based society, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his New Year message.

We look to the New Year with abundant hope in our ability to fulfill the aspirations of our people for progress and prosperity as a nation, and a land of peace and unity for our children, the President further stated.

Referring to the victory over terrorism, President Rajapaksa stated, that the New Year can be greeted with ‘commensurate pride and satisfaction at our achievements in the past’.

Following is the full text of the message: