Resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPS will remain top priority of the Government of Sri Lanka

The Nepalese leaders congratulated President Rajapaksa on the defeat of the LTTE and elimination of terrorism in Sri Lanka and re-affirmed their solidarity with the Government and People of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa undertook a 3 day Official Visit to Nepal from 29th – 31st, October 2009 at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.

Sri Lankan leader appraised the Nepalese leaders the current developments in the country in particular on the ongoing rehabilitation and re-construction process.

President said that the ongoing rehabilitation and re-construction process and has been and will be the priority of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the number of IDP’s has been brought down to 180, 000 as of 27 October, 2009 from the original figure of 280,000 as a result of the commitment and the well coordinated resettlement programmes undertaken by the Government in collaboration with the UN according to international standards.

Earlier, on arrival President Rajapaksa and the delegation were accorded an official welcome and received by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Sujata Koirala, Minister for Constituent Assembly, Federal Affairs, Parliamentary affairs and Culture Dr. Minendra Rijal and the Nepalese Ambassador to Sri Lanka His Excellency Durga Prasad Bhattarai at the Tribhuwan International Airport.

During the visit, President Rajapaksa held discussions with President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Unified Communist Party-Maoist Puspha Kamal Dahal [Prachanda] and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Sujata Koirala called on the President.

Wide range of issues pertaining to the future cooperation between Sri Lanka and Nepal were discussed by them including tourism promotion, trade and investment, education and health care, bilateral air services, development of Lumbini and convening of Joint Commission between Sri Lanka and Nepal.

President told the Nepalese leaders that the process rehabilitation and resettlement of the IDPs will continue despite numerous hurdles including the demining in the affected areas. President also said that there is gradual restoration of democracy and the resuscitation of institutions of representative democracy in the North as been done in the East.

While praising the dynamic leadership of President Rajapaksa, the Nepalese President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav expressed his confidence that given the strong leadership in the caliber of President Rajapaksa Sri Lanka will soon achieve rapid economic and social progress. President Rajapaksa welcomed a proposal made by the Nepalese President for a multi-party parliamentary delegation from Nepal to undertake a visit to Sri Lanka.

President Yadav stressed that such a visit would help them seek advice directly from the President of Sri Lanka with regard to his experience in the post conflict developments including reconciliation and healing process. The two leaders also agreed that it would help the Nepalese Parliamentarians to interact with cross sections of Sri Lankan polity. In terms of regional co-operation, the two leaders underscored the need to consolidate the “implementation” phase of SAARC.

President Rajapaksa took the opportunity in his capacity as the current Chair of SAARC to thank the Government of Nepal for its substantial contribution towards the implementation of SAARC agenda.

During the bilateral discussion, the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal proposed to convene an international symposium with a view to generate international support for the development of Lumbini as a centre for worship for the Buddhists all over the world. Nepalese Prime Minister said that the visit of President Rajapaksa to Nepal generated a lot of interest in Nepal on Lumbini development and thanked him for his noble contribution towards the development of Lumbini as a sacred destination.

The Nepalese Prime Minister stated that he is particularly proud to pursue this matter in his capacity as the patron of the Lumbini Development Trust. The two leaders also discussed on the enhancement of connectivity between the two countries and strengthening trade and investment promotion.

During his courtesy call on Sri Lankan President, the former Prime Minister and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal congratulated President Rajapaksa on the defeat of the LTTE . He added that with the restoration of peace and stability in the country, Sri Lanka will soon be heading towards greater prosperity. Stating that education and health care systems in Sri Lanka are very well managed, the former Prime Minister expressed his desire to study those systems. The President responded to these comments on a positive note.

The Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Nepal Sujata Koirala also paid a courtesy call on the President. The convening of the first Joint Commission between the two countries was also highlighted at the discussion. Nepalese side undertook to propose a set of dates for the convening of the Joint Commission to be held in Colombo. The importance of convening the Foreign Minister level consultations between the two countries, in the form of a Joint Commission was decided when the President Rajapaksa visited Nepal in March this year.

Also during his visit, President Rajapaksa travelled to Lumbini to pay homage to the birth place of the Lord Buddha. There, he declared open the Sri Lanka Monastery complex in Lumbini which is equipped with a library, museum, a research centre and residential facilities to residing Monks, Scholars ect.

At a reception hosted by the Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Nepal Thosapala Hewage, the President met with the Sri Lankan community based in Nepal. Whilst addressing them, the President appreciated the affection and the attachment of the Sri Lankan expatriates towards their motherland and re-extended his invitation to Sri Lankan expatriates to return back home and make their valuable contribution towards the ongoing economic development in the country and share their experience and expertise.

The President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Health Care and Nutrition Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karaliyadda, Minister of Labour Dr. Mervin Silva, Additional Secretary to the President and Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Co-ordinating Secretary to the President and Member of the Southern Provisional Council Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.

- Asian Tribune -