From Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
Finance Minister K. N. Choksy has had useful discussions with Gordon Brown, Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, and World Bank President James Wolfonson during the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference here this week.

The minister told the Sunday Island that both Brown and Wolfonson had expressed their pleasure about the progress of the on-going peace process and pledged support for rebuilding the economy. The discussions had focused on ways of rebuilding countries in post-conflict situations, Choksy said.

Choksy also had talks with Alan Greenspan, the head of the US Federal Reserve Bank whom he briefed on the current political situation in Sri Lanka. Greenspan was a special guest at the Commonwealth conference which was opened by Queen Elizabeth.

Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte accompanied Choksy to the Commonwealth meeting. They later left for Washington to attend the World Bank meetings.

Economic Reform, Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda who was also in Britain had met a number of British parliamentarians and briefed them on the current situation in Sri Lanka.

At a meeting with Ms. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, he stressed the urgent need for aid not only for developing the north and the east of the country but also the south telling Short that as a result of the 20-year war all development projects had been halted.

Ms. Short who hoped to visit Sri Lanka in December assured the minister of British assistance. Similar support was pledged by Mike O’Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development Affairs whom Moragoda met.

At a meeting with Peter Hain, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for Europe, the British minister commanded the courageous steps and the foresight of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s peace initiatives. He asked Moragoda to convey his congratulations to the premier about the breakthrough he had achieved on the peace front.

Hain stated that he had followed the outcome of the initial phase of the peace talks with great interest and was convinced that the present climate was conducive to proceed with the course that has been initiated.

Moragoda told both O’Brien and Hain that he hoped that the international community will sustain its interest in the developments in Sri Lanka. He also briefed them on Sri Lanka’s initiative to convene a high level international donor conference for the rehabilitation and development of the country.

Both British ministers welcomed the proposal and stated that the United Kingdom is willing to play a key role.

Moragoda invited both Hain and O’Brien to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time in the near future. The invitation was accepted.

The minister was accompanied to these meetings by High Commissioner Faiz Mustapha and Deputy High Commissioner Kshenuka Senewiratne.