At roundtable talks with US President: President Rajapaksa discusses issues of terrorism and democracy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended a Roundtable meeting in New York at the invitation of the American President George W. Bush.

The meeting was called a Roundtable on Democracy. Sri Lanka was invited to this meeting as a long-standing democracy. Along with Sri Lanka, two other larger longer-standing democracies including India and the United States attended the Roundtable.

Several African, South American and European countries also attended. The modus of assisting the emerging democracies to further their democratic values, which would guarantee their future status as longstanding democracies was discussed in detail.

This meeting was based on their status as emerging democracies. The steps needed to secure democratic countries from terrorism were also discussed in detail.

President Rajapaksa met several world leaders in New York, and held discussions on issues ranging from terrorism, child soldiers, challenges before democracy and bilateral relations with those countries.

He was also a guest of honour at the luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The President attended the 61st session of the United Nations last week. A large number of leaders such as the US President and the French President also attended the inaugural session.

Curb LTTE fund-raising and misinformation - President tells Swiss President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who met the Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger has expressed the hope that the Swiss government would take measures to curb propaganda (misinformation) and fund-raising activities of the LTTE among the Tamil population in Switzerland.

The two Presidents met in New York on Tuesday, where they attended the 61st session of the UN General Assembly.

They exchanged views on a wide range of issues including terrorism in Sri Lanka, world peace and bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Swiss President assured his country's cooperation in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa hoped that the Swiss government would take measures to curb propaganda, and fund-raising activities of the LTTE among the Tamil population in Switzerland. He also expressed his wish that the Tamils living in Geneva would be able to live in peace, free from intimidation by the LTTE.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary M. Palihakkara were associated with the President at the meeting.