Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to accelerate its efforts towards sustainable reconciliation and consolidation of its “successful and hard won peace” through continued implementation of the recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
While recognizing Colombo’s significant effort towards redeveloping its infrastructure and basic services in the island nation’s Northern Province, Sharma hoped that these “public goods” will increasingly add economic value, advance the welfare of the citizens of Northern Province, and nurture development and prosperity.
He was addressing the media at the conclusion of his five-day visit to Sri Lanka Wednesday, reports the Colombo Page.
Sharma said he had discussed with President Mahinda Rajapaksa a range of Commonwealth issues, including the implementation of mandates set by Commonwealth leaders at their Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November 2013.
He said he briefed President Rajapaksa on progress with these, many of which have benefited from his personal leadership and the guidance of the Sri Lankan Government.
The visiting Commonwealth chief also met with Foreign Minister Professor G L Peiris, Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa,leading Members of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Karu Jayasuriya.
Sharma met the Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Justice Priyantha R P Perera, and other Commissioners and discussed the Commonwealth’s work with the Commission He said Commonwealth’s technical assistance to the Commission has included strengthening its capacity to work with international human rights mechanisms in Geneva and its deepened engagement is aimed at enhancing the functional independence, authority and effectiveness of the Commission.
Sharma also met Sri Lanka’s Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya and discussed previous Commonwealth observation exercises and continuing challenges that need to be addressed by all concerned, including pre-electoral violence and the misuse of State resources for electioneering.
Speaking about his one-day visit to the Northern Province, the Secretary General said steps that empower the people of the Province and those whom they elect as their leaders are equally important as the government’s development effort.
Highlighting that here cannot be durable reconciliation without knowledge of the whereabouts of missing persons and accounting for their disappearance or loss, the Secretary General wished success to the presidential commission set up for this purpose in its work.
The Commonwealth Chief also met the Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Mr Jean Paul Laborde who is currently on a three-day official visit to assess Sri Lanka’s implementation of counterterrorism measures.
He said the Commonwealth is working in an active partnership with the CTED to prevent and combat terrorism, to build the capacity of member states, and to foster international and regional cooperation and coordination.
Sharma said the Commonwealth Secretariat looks forward to its continuing partnership with the Government and people of Sri Lanka.
—-ANI