We have to give the rural people who comprises 80% of our population the results of giant development works we have initiated in the country. It is not only an expectation but also a challenge which we are ready to take up, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Addressing the 64th Independence Day celebrations at Anuradhapura this morning President said that we would be able to utilize the giant development works built by us for national development only if we can bring up a citizen equipped with modern, scientific, technical and language skills and who could be on par with anybody else in the world.  

"We would be able to exist as an independent, sovereign state only if we strengthen our economy. We have to get together and work just as we got together and worked with dedication to defeat terrorism," President added.

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has expressed the hope "that all those who wish Sri Lanka well, would view the LLRC report as a catalyst and continue to engage with Sri Lanka in a constructive manner, giving the Government the time and space needed to carry out what has been recommended by the LLRC". The Ambassador made this observation in the course of his response to interventions made at a ‘Sri Lanka Briefing’ convened by the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ of the European Parliament held on 25 January 2012 at the European Parliament.

Full Text of the statement is follows:

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Philippines Nawalage Bennet Cooray handed over a donation of US $ 50,000 to that country’s Foreign Minister, Albert F. Del Rosario recently for relief operations in the wake of the enormous natural disaster suffered by the Philippines in recent weeks.   

Having witnessed the vast destruction caused to human lives and properties by the recent floods in the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities in Mindanao Province of the Philippines, President Mahinda Rajapakse immediately conveyed his condolences to his counterpart, President Benigno S. Aqunio III and the government and people of that county on 21st December, 2011. He also instructed Sri Lankan Government officials to transfer urgently required funds for the recovery effort.  

In a far-sighted, visionary move the state under the guidance and unwavering commitment of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has launched the Ten Year Programme for a Trilingual Sri Lanka; a much awaited initiative which could be easily described as historic. Accordingly, year 2012 has been proclaimed by the government as the Year for a Trilingual Sri Lanka and the hope and prayer of the well meaning and thoughtful of Sri Lanka is likely to be that this ground-breaking project would succeed fully and be a boon to the citizenry of this country.  

We join the progressives of this country in wishing the Trilingual project all the very best. It should be plain to see that the initiative, if implemented flawlessly and enthusiastically, would deliver this country from some historic and tragic blunders which contributed in no small way towards the explosive emergence of the blighting 30 year conflict which bled Sri Lanka white and steadily undermined its well being.

Chaminda PERERA 

The Indian government yesterday said that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has many constructive recommendations which would lead to genuine national reconciliation. 

Addressing the media in Colombo visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that Sri Lanka government is committed to implement the LLRC recommendations. 

He said that the efforts that were taken to end the three-decades conflict should now be employed towards the creation of genuine reconciliation and India is always ready to assist Sri Lanka in this respect too. 

“We are ready to help in whatever way we can in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill” , he added.  

Krishna said that the Sri Lankan government has on many occasions conveyed to India that it would work for a lasting solution based on the 13th Amendment.

Minister Peiris had discussions with Mr. Blaise Compaore, President   of Burkina Faso, on Wednesday. At  this  meeting  the  Foreign  Minister  handed  over  a  personal  letter  from  President  Rajapaksa  to  the  President  of  Burkina  Faso.   President Campaore requested  that  his  warm  greetings  be  conveyed  to  the  President  of  Sri  Lanka.

To assess the Post- conflict Reconciliation and Developments in Sri Lanka  8th to 11th January, 2012

Minister of External Affairs, Professor G.L. Peiris called in the Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka Christine Robichon, on Tuesday 3rd January 2012, to register Sri Lanka’s acute concern on the issue of four stamps by “La Poste” of France depicting images related to the LTTE including its insignia, while being a proscribed group in France.