Lanka experiencing economic resurgence, stability - Prof Peiris

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris highlighted that Sri Lanka has made swift and significant post-conflict progress and that the country is experiencing unprecedented economic resurgence and stability.

Prof. Peiris was speaking to a cross-section of the British and international media at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London last week.

Elaborating further on the post-conflict developments, the Minister highlighted the main aspects as follows:

More than 50 percent of the areas mined by the LTTE have been cleared.

Of the over 11,500 ex-LTTE combatants who surrendered at the end of the conflict, other than hardcore members against whom there is legally admissible evidence, the rest will be released following rehabilitation.

As a positive outcome of the ongoing process of transforming ex-combatants into productive citizens, 170 ex-combatants, including former child-soldiers sat the GCE O/Level examinations, 40 sat the GCE A/Level, and two entered Medical College.

More than 500 Tamil-speaking police officers have been recruited in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the last five months, in recognition of the language-related challenges faced by the people in these areas.

All High Security Zones in Jaffna have been dismantled following the recent opening of Victoria Road in Jaffna.

On the economic front, the second highest post-independence economic growth in the country was recorded in 2010, when the economy grew by eight percent.

As a result of the post-conflict boom, banks in the North and the East recorded the best all-island performance in the issuance and recovery of loans granted last year for livestock and agriculture development.

Minister Peiris explained that in addition to the above highlights, Sri Lanka has given priority to post-conflict reconciliation, and the process of negotiating a solution to outstanding political issues.

With regard to political talks, Minister Peiris said that three rounds of talks have already taken place, and the process is ongoing. The next round of talks is scheduled at the end of this month.