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 Delivering the Keynote Address of the first Dialogue between the
International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London
and the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, the External
Affairs Minister Professor G.L Peiris said that it is
regrettable that groups close to the LTTE, knowing very well
that they cannot unleash violence the way they did with impunity
in the past, have now taken on an initiative of a different
complexion, which has assumed the character of an economic
onslaught against Sri Lanka. Their purpose now is to dissuade
investors and tourists from coming to Sri Lanka and cut off
access to western markets for Sri Lankan products.
Referring to a query from The Telegraph yesterday seeking the
views of the Government of Sri Lanka on a number of photographs
the suppliers of which had claimed to be taken in the North of
Sri Lanka during the final phases of the conflict which ended in
last May, the Minister said that the group which is close to the
LTTE and had supplied the photographs to the newspapers
themselves had admitted that they were not in a position to
confirm the authenticity, place and the veracity of the material
supplied by them. Citing this as an example to explain the
nature of the misinformation campaign against Sri Lanka, the
Minister added that when several photographs allegedly depicting
war crimes were first published by Channel 4, the Government
clearly established, by reference to technical considerations,
that they were not genuine but fake. However, the same set of
photographs continues to appear in a well planned,
systematically orchestrated pattern, from time to time. He
recalled that one week before the European Commission was
scheduled to take a decision on the extension of GSP+ trade
concessions to Sri Lanka, they again surfaced.
A report, strongly adverse to Sri Lanka but phrased in the
vaguest language, with reference to anonymous sources, without
any attribution or identification, was launched with
considerable fanfare by the International Crisis Group in
London. The timing of this event had great significance: it took
place, Minister Peiris pointed out, a week before the European
Commission was due to make a decision having important
repercussions for Sri Lanka. On the very next day, for good
measure, Amnesty International followed suit, also in London
with a similar charade, Professor Peiris continued.
Responding to a question raised by the Amnesty International
representative on the Witness Protection Bill the Minister said
that the draft bill is under consideration by Parliament but it
will be decided by the Parliament according to the needs of Sri
Lanka and not as dictated by any other party. The Minister
stated that Amnesty International was acting on a political
agenda at present, their postures determined by preconceived
notions and prejudices, with scant respect for objectivity of
judgement.
Commenting on the dedication of the government of Sri Lanka to
pursue a political solution the Minister said that the solution
has to be decided by the people of Sri Lanka. The Minister also
said that whatever the Government would do about the future of
the country in shaping its destiny has to be done in consonance
with those who actually live and die in Sri Lanka. He added that
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has had a series of meetings with
legitimate representatives of the Tamil people, who necessarily
carry for more credibility than self-appointed guardians who
live thousands of miles away from Sri Lanka, pursuing their own
agendas with very little sensitivity to the genuine aspirations
of the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. The Minister said that the
government will, with its two thirds majority which provides it
with the legal capability to change the Constitution, address he
relevant issues through a due process.
The Keynote address also contained extensive reference to the
present developments in Sri Lanka including the progress made
with regard to resettlement of the displaced, major development
drives aimed at restoration of infrastructure and livelihood of
the people in the conflict affected areas, and the work done so
far by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
Minister Peiris referred to the firmly established relationship,
nurtured by history and culture, between Sri Lanka and the
United Kingdom. He went on to identify a variety of fields which
offer abundant scope for fruitful collaboration between the two
countries in the new era which has opened in Sri Lanka after the
eradication of terrorism.
The Dialogue also featured three sessions on “Post Conflict
Progress in Sri Lanka”, Sri Lanka – UK Bilateral Relations:
Future Perspectives” and “Countering Terrorism & Transnational
Terrorist Front Organizations”. This is scheduled to continue as
an annual event between the International Institute of Strategic
Studies in London and the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri
Lanka.
19th October 2010
Sri Lanka High Commission
London
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