Lanka - Australia strengthen ties

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama speaking to his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith appreciated the continuous interest expressed by Australia on the current development in Sri Lanka. He stated that the close dialogue and engagement between the two countries in this manner was an encouragement to Sri Lanka’s efforts.

The Minister thanked the Australian Government for pledging Australian $. 4.5 million in humanitarian assistance for the urgent need of civilians displaced in the North. Welcomed the constant stand taken by the Australian Government against the establishment of an Independent Tamil State. Minister Bogollagama appreciated Minister Smith reiterating this position in his recent interview to the media.

He also thanked Minister Smith for his appeal made earlier to the Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates living in Australia to urge the LTTE to renounce violence and to lay down arms.

While thanking Minister Bogollagama for initiating the call, Minister Smith stated that he closely followed the situation in Sri Lanka and noted reports of the recent visit by French Foreign Minister Dr. Bernard Kouchner and the British Foreign Secretary David Miliband to Sri Lanka.

He stated that the Sri Lankan Government was winning war, and added that a political settlement was necessary to address grievances of the Tamil community and urged for a political dialogue and reconciliation.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama briefing on the current developments in Sri Lanka stated that the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) has appealed to the opposition parties which are not in the APRC to participate in the deliberations urgently. He informed Minister Smith that the main opposition party too has conveyed that they would submit their proposals to the Parliament.

Referring to the ‘Indo-Lanka Accord’, Minister Bogollagama informed his Australian counterpart that the Government has given its utmost priority for the implementation of its provisions. Minister Bogollagama said the Government is planning to hold the Local Government elections in Jaffna in the near future. The minister also gave a detailed account of the meetings he had with French Foreign Minister as well as the British Foreign Secretary.

Referring to the facilities provided to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the welfare centres, Minister Bogollagama said the Government is aiming to resettle them before the end of this year.

He commended the efforts of the ICRC and UNHCR assistance rendered to the Government. He conveyed to Minister Smith of the urgent need of ambulances for the use of welfare centres to transfer patients to hospitals outside the IDP camps whereby Minister Smith agreed to explore the possibility of providing them under the development assistance program.

Minister Smith while appreciating the confidence shown in sharing the information stated that a large number of Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates in Australia have expressed their concerns of the civilians held by the LTTE and ongoing terrorist tactics confining them to a smaller area.

Minister Bogollagama maintained the position that there were sufficient food and essential items available for the IDPs. Referring to the interest shown by the Australian Immigration and Citizenship Minister to contact Minister Bogollagama during the recently held Bali Process Meeting, the Minister inquired as to the proposed high level visit to Sri Lanka to discuss on the human smuggling activities.