The Government of Sri Lanka has consistently espoused and been guided by the gentle tenets of Buddhism, which emphasizes Karuna, Metta, Muditha and Upeksha meaning  -kindness, loving compassion, thoughtfulness and equanimity said Kshenuka Senewiratne addressing a large international gathering at the commemoration of the  2600^th Anniversary of Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi, which  was celebrated at the United Nations in Geneva on the 11^th May 2011. This commemorative event was organized by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, at the United Nations Assembly Hall, which is considered a most prestigious venue. This occasion was also graced by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Disaster Management and Mr. Kassym Jomart Tokayev, United Nations Under-Secretary General and the newly appointed Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, who is the former Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.

Need to build new financial order to better face future crises – President  

“Essential that globally influential economies act in a globally responsible manner”   

The global economic crisis taught us many lessons that varied across nations. All countries learnt both common and individual lessons, from this crisis, which left behind a trail of serious damage across nations and shook the very foundations of the financial structure of the world. It is therefore, clear that if we are to safeguard the world economy in the future, we would need to build a new financial order and a model that will better equip us to face crises of this nature, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his inaugural address to the 49th South East Asian Central Bank Governors’ (SEACEN) Conference, in Colombo today (25).

Commenting on the theme of the conference - “Post-Global Financial Crisis: Issues and Challenges for Central Banks of Emerging Markets” - he said that in seeking to build a new financial order much attention has been paid to regulate and supervise financial institutions which are considered to be “too big to fail”. This is indeed commendable, since the fall of major global financial institutions damages the international financial structure in a permanent manner.

‘Inconvenient and difficult decisions also necessary for nation’s progress’ 

The people of our country must change their attitudes about future progress of the country, similar to the manner in which they began to think afresh about achieving victory over the forces of terror. There is the need for an enormous attitudinal change from children to adults to achieve national development, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation at the 63rd celebration of Independence in Kataragama today (4 Feb). 

This is the true freedom that we believe in, he stressed. 

Similar to the success of our conviction that terrorism could be defeated, we have also shown our ability to build large power stations at Norochcholai, Upper Kothmale and Kerawalapitiya, build massive ports in Hambantota and Colombo, develop major irrigation schemes as in Moragahakanda and Uma Oya, and make our cities clean, he said. 

He pointed out that all of this will not make our freedom meaningful in the absence of a law-abiding society. ‘Therefore, we are committed to building a law-abiding society. The respect for discipline in a society is essential for development.’ 

President Rajapaksa added that the country cannot be developed solely on popular decisions. ‘Inconvenient and difficult decisions are also necessary for the nation’s progress. It is the nation’s responsibility to take hard and difficult decisions to bring light to the future of our children, rather than take popular decisions that will lead them to darkness ahead’, he said.

‘International Humanitarian Law should reflect reality of non-state actors in conflicts’ 

The entire focus of our nation, is now on building a lasting peace; healing wounds, ensuring economic prosperity and guaranteeing the rights of the whole nation to live in harmony, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York today (Sep 23). 

We are pursuing a nation-wide agenda of renewal. Sri Lanka has already returned over 90% of the internally displaced persons to their original villages that were previously riddled with landmines, he further said.  

President Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the Chairmanship of the G- 15 from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran at the 14th G-15 Summit in Tehran, Iran on 17th May 2010, the Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris stated at a media briefing held at the Ministry of External Affairs on 18th May 2010.

In response to well coordinated series of statements and web comments on alleged government plans to ‘arrest NGO activists and to suppress and intimidate its opponents and critics’, the Office of the President states that it has not found evidence of any ‘intelligence lists’ of NGO activists prepared by the State Intelligence Service as stated on Lanka News Web, or by any other law enforcement authority.

The Office of the President further states that any investigation by the authorities on alleged or suspected illegal or criminal activities are, and will be, conducted strictly in accordance with the law.

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: