EU Parliamentary delegation invited to visit East
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the European Union Ravinatha Aryasinha has
welcomed the decision by the European Parliamentary delegation visiting
Sri Lanka from 20-26 July to undertake a visit to the Eastern Province
to witness the political transformation taking place and to meet with
the new Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan.
Noting that this would be the first official contact between the EU
and the new provincial administration, since last month a delegation of
the European Commission shied away from doing so, he said it was fitting
that it takes place between elected representatives of the European
people and the elected representatives of the Eastern Province.
He said Sri Lanka welcomed the change of position, as it opened the
doors for the EU to become a full partner in the development of the
Eastern Province which was tasting democracy, after a lapse of 20 years
under LTTE domination.
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when he addressed the EU
Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South Asia
in Brussels on Wednesday (16 July, 2008).
The delegation headed by its Chairman Robert Evans, Socialist Group
member of the UK, will include a cross section of the political groups
and member States represented within the EU.
Besides visiting the East and being hosted to lunch by the Speaker
and members of the Sri Lanka Parliament, the comprehensive six day
programme will include meetings with key members of the Cabinet,
political parties representing all shades of opinion, civil society
groups and the media.
Ambassador Aryasinha said the delegation was visiting Sri Lanka at an
important time when they could see for themselves the developments that
were taking place, particularly since the restoration of normalcy in the
East.
Noting that several in the delegation had last visited the island in
the aftermath of the tsunami, he expressed confidence that they will
find that the support given by the EU as well as member countries, had
been put to good use.
He hoped the EU Parliamentarians will also be able to better
understand the continuing challenges Sri Lanka faced in its
socio-economic development while fighting one of the world’s most
ruthless terrorist organisations. |