Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama expressed confidence that the ongoing deliberations in the APRC would pave the way for a lasting political settlement of the current conflict, while defeating terrorism.

He also elaborated on the interim proposals of the APRC that were unveiled in January this year, which called for the implementation of the official languages policy and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Bogollagama was speaking with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, representing the United States in its capacity as an Observer at the SAARC Summit. Boucher called on the Foreign Minister in Colombo last Friday.

The Minister emphasized the government position that only the Sri Lankan security forces and the police had the right to bear arms and all armed groups must be disbanded. Boucher reiterated the complete and wholehearted support of the US for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and referred to the arrest and prosecution of a number of LTTE operatives in the US. The Foreign Minister responded by stating that Sri Lanka regards the US as a staunch and steadfast friend, with which it had an open and candid relationship.

The Foreign Minister recalled his recent meeting with the US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice in Singapore at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and briefed Boucher on the usefulness of Sri Lanka’s membership of the ARF in drawing attention to issues of common concern to the region, including maritime security and trans-national crimes, which had been flagged by Sri Lanka at the ARF in Manila last year.

The Minister said that a breakfast meeting has been arranged for the representatives of the SAARC Observer States to interact with the SAARC Council of Ministers on today (3), which he hoped would be the beginning of an era of fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership.

Referring to recent developments in Sri Lanka, Minister Bogollagama elaborated on the successful holding of Provincial Council elections in the Eastern Province, which witnessed the election of a former child solider, belonging to a breakaway group of the LTTE, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan as the Chief Minister.

The Foreign Minister remarked that the Chief Minister was making a determined effort to be responsive to the demands of democracy. He further said that US$ 1.8 billion has been envisaged as investment for the building of infrastructure and development projects over the next three years in the Eastern Province.