A Cabinet Paper submitted by Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris establishing an Inter-Agency Advisory Committee to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations in the Interim Communication of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 27.10.2010.

A cross party delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) – UK Branch , which was in Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Parliament of Sri Lanka said that the progress made by the Government on the resettlement of the internally displaced people in the North and the East was “remarkable”. This was conveyed during an interaction the delegation had with Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris, on 22nd October 2010.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has written to His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, appealing for clemency with respect to the Sri Lanka national Ms. Rizana Nafeek, who was convicted and is facing execution as an outcome of the case related to the death of an infant entrusted to her care.

It may be recalled that Ms. Rizana Nafeek had arrived from Sri Lanka in Saudi Arabia in April 2005. The unfortunate death of the child took place a month later in May that year. The Sri Lanka authorities, as well as several well-wishers have been involved in observing the case and facilitating her in coping with her legal issues.

Recalling age-old, time-tested UK - Sri Lanka friendship Acting Minister invites more investment from the UK

Recalling the age-old, time-tested friendship with the UK, Acting Minister of External Affairs Gitanjana Gunawardena invited a cross party delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) – UK Branch to encourage more investment from the UK to Sri Lanka, especially the North and the East. The Acting Minister made these comments when the delegation, which is currently undertaking a visit to Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Parliament, called on the Acting Minister at the External Affairs Ministry on 18th October.

The attention of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is drawn to the joint letter addressed by the International Crisis Group (ICG), Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) on 14 October 2010, to the Secretary of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

It is observed that the joint letter contains a series of unsubstantiated allegations against the GoSL on a wide range of issues, including matters unrelated to the purview of the Commission. This, as well as the unusual decision of the three Organisations to release the joint letter to the public, is demonstrative of a broader targeted agenda against the GoSL.

The Third Session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Sri Lanka – South Africa Partnership Forum was concluded on the 12^th October 2010 at the Cinnamon Lakeside in Colombo.  Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs led the Sri Lanka delegation while the South African delegation was led by Ambassador S. Ngombane, Deputy Director-General for Asia and Middle East of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, having travelled to Delhi to accompany President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and for the bilateral discussions with the Indian Prime Minister, used the opportunity to also meet with several other senior Indian Government personalities.

On the morning of 14th October, Minister Peiris met with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, for a very cordial and constructive review of bilateral relations. The discussion between the two Ministers served as a curtain raiser to the forthcoming session of the India – Sri Lanka Joint Commission that will take place, when Minister Krishna visits Sri Lanka later this year.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris met his Indian counterpart Mr. S. M. Krishna in New Delhi this afternoon. The two Ministers held discussions on the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India and his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other bilateral issues during the luncheon meeting. The Foreign Secretaries of the two countries, Mr Romesh Jayasinghe and Ms Nirupama Rao and two High Commissioners Mr Prasad Kariyawasam and Ashok Kantha were also present during the discussions.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been invited to attend the Closing Ceremony, as an Honored Guest, on 14th October, of the Commonwealth Games that are at present underway in New Delhi. While he is in New Delhi, President Rajapaksa will also have bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.