Lanka committed to negotiated solution

Foreign Minister Bogollagama tells Dr. Condolezza Rice

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told US Secretary of State, Dr. Condolezza Rice that the government was committed to a negotiated solution to the conflict and that military operations undertaken in the East of Sri Lanka were intended to prevent the LTTE from taking military advantage using the cover of the ceasefire and convince the LTTE that it could not expect to win on the battlefield.

The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa was fully committed to evolving a consensus in the South and developing constitutional reforms to enable an enduring settlement to the present conflict that would address the concerns of the minorities.

The Minister met the Secretary of State yesterday at the State Department. The meeting was preceded by a discussion with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador Nicholas Burns. During his three-day visit to Washington, Minister Bogollagama also held meetings with members of the Administration including White House National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Asia and Pacific Security Affairs Ambassador Richard Lawless and Deputy US Trade Representative Karan K. Bhatia.

In response to concerns expressed by the American side, Minister Bogollagama said that the government was very concerned about allegations of human rights abuses and had set in motion mechanisms for addressing these concerns including setting up a Commission of Inquiry and an international group of eminent persons who would ensure transparency and impartiality in the investigations.

On the recent displacement of civilians in the East, the Minister stressed that these are of a temporary nature. He said the government was clearing the LTTE presence which threatens security and living conditions of the people in this area. He said immediate action will be taken for rehabilitation and resettlement of such persons, as demonstrated earlier in Muttur and Vakarai.

Minister Bogollagama said that the Government was deeply appreciative of the continuing support extended by the US towards Sri Lanka's efforts to defeat terrorism. He sought greater vigilance and greater action by the United States law enforcement authorities in countering front organisations of the LTTE and preventing those responsible for funding the LTTE in the US.

Associated with Minister Bogollagama at this meeting were Sri Lanka's Ambassador in the US, Bernard Goonetilleke, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, Director General/Public Communications of the Foreign Ministry, Ravinatha Aryasinha and Media Advisor to the Foreign Minister Lalith de Silva.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Steven Mann and Sri Lanka Desk Officer Molly Gower were associated with Secretary Rice.