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Australia Condemns Further Sri Lankan Ceasefire Agreement Violations
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Media Release
10 January 2006
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Statement by
The Hon. Alexandre Downer, MP
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA
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Australia condemns the recent increase in violence in Sri Lanka, particularly the attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north and east which have killed at least 60 members of the security forces since December.
Australia also condemns the assassination of the Hon Joseph Pararajasingham MP at Christmas midnight mass in Batticaloa, in eastern Sri Lanka.
Australia recognises the continued restraint shown by the Government of Sri Lanka in the face of these latest attacks, as well as its determination not to allow the LTTE's actions to undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated peace.
Australia calls on the LTTE and paramilitary groups to respect the ceasefire agreement and heed the recent call of the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference to stop all violations of the ceasefire.
Australia considers that the conflict can only be resolved through a negotiated settlement that meets the aspirations of all Sri Lankans. We call upon all parties to take steps to end the recent violence and return, without delay, to talks on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa003_06.html
 
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President Briefs Co-Chairs on Escalation of Violence by LTTE
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Media Release
09 January 2006
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President Mahinda Rajapakse met with the Ambassadors of the Co-Chair countries of the Tokyo Donor Conference, Japan, United States, European Union and Norway, this morning and briefed them on the escalation of violence by the LTTE and in particular the unprovoked suicide attack on a Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft on Saturday which claimed the lives of 13 Navy Personnel and destroyed the Navy vessel. The President condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms identified it as a suicide operation which had all the hallmarks of the LTTE. The explosive laden boat had approached the navy vessel which was on routine patrol, using the cover of civilian fishing boats and rammed into the Navy FAC in a typical Sea Tiger suicide attack.
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US Appreciative of Restraint Shown by Sri Lanka Government
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Amidst Grave Provocation
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Media Release
06 January 2006
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Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera concluded his three day official visit to Washington on Friday, expressing satisfaction that the US Government was appreciative of the restraint shown by the Sri Lanka government in the face of the LTTE provocations. Minister Samaraweera�s visit is the first to the U.S. by a member of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, since its assumption of office in November 2005 and was used as an opportunity to review the full range of bilateral relations between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.
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Minister Samaraweera Briefs Secretary Rice on Developments in Sri Lanka
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Media Release
05 January 2006
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Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who met US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice today (Thursday 5 January), briefed her on developments in Sri Lanka and conveyed to her the Sri Lanka government’s firm commitment to seek a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Minister Samaraweera’s visit is the first to the U.S. by a member of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, since its assumption of office in November 2005.
Minister Samaraweera told Secretary Rice that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been able to secure the support of 28 political parties in the recent election and was currently holding consultations with other opposition political parties including the UNP, to evolve a southern consensus on solving the conflict. Since his election a little over 6 weeks ago, President Rajapaksa had repeatedly invited the LTTE to resume negotiations with a view to strengthen the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and in arriving at a negotiated political settlement.
Minister Samaraweera, who noted that Sri Lanka was Asia’s oldest democracy, thanked the US Government for the pro-active role it had played to support the peace process. He stressed that the solution the Government of Sri Lanka envisaged is one that is based on democracy, human rights and pluralism.
Earlier the Minister also held meetings with Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca, who were also associated with Dr. Rice at the meeting with the Foreign Minister. Minister Samaraweera said that he looks forward to meeting Under Secretary Burns, when he next visits the region.
Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US Bernard A.B. Goonetilleke, Senior Advisor to the President Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary-General of SCOPP Dr. John Gooneratne, and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington Ambassador Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, were associated with the Foreign Minister at these meetings.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington D.C.
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Sri Lanka Has Full Support Of The US Congress |
To Move The Peace Process Forward- US Senator Richard Lugar
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Media Release
04 January 2006
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Sri Lanka Delegation with Senator Lugar
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Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who is currently visiting Washington for a meeting with US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice on Thursday, today met the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, senior US officials of the US Trade Representative�s Office and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Minister Samaraweera�s visit is the first to the U.S. by a member of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, since its assumption of office in November 2005.
This morning the Minister visited Capitol Hill, where he met with the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Richard Lugar. The Minister briefed Senator Lugar on the current developments in Sri Lanka and of President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s new approach towards the peace process. Senator Lugar who thanked the Minister for a comprehensive briefing of the new government�s policies, assured him that Sri Lanka has the full support of the US Congress as it seeks to move the peace process forward.
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India Welcomes Sri Lanka�s Offer for Early Resumption of Peace Talks
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Media Release
30 December 2005
Sri Lanka � India Joint Statement
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His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka and Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa paid a State Visit to India from December 27-30, 2005, at the invitation of the President of India, His Excellency Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. The President of Sri Lanka was accompanied by Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. A.H.M. Fowzie, Minister of Railways, Transport and Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development, Mr. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Marketing Development, Mrs. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing and Construction, Mr. R. Bogollagama, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Ministers, leaders of political parties and senior officials.
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Canada Concerned About Deteriorating Security Situation in Sri Lanka
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Media Release
30 December 2005
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The Canadian High Commission issued the following statement concerning the recent increase
in violence in Sri Lanka
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Canada is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka. Attacks on the security forces, civilians, and the assassination of Joseph Pararajasingham, Member of Parliament, are only the most recent and salient examples of a disturbing wave of violence which has been building for months.
Canada calls upon the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and all paramilitary groups, to abide by the recent appeal of the Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka Donors� Group and immediately halt such acts. These tactics only result in the devastating loss of innocent lives and continue to weaken the already fragile peace process.
Canada continues to maintain that the conflict can only be brought to an end through a peaceful, negotiated settlement and that such a solution must satisfy the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans, regardless of language, ethnicity or religion while preserving the country�s unity and territorial integrity. To this end, Canada urges both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to urgently engage in talks on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
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Encouraging Peace in Sri Lanka
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Media Release
28 December
2005
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
Statement by Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
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The following statement was released in Washington, D.C. on December 27, 2005
On December 24, representatives of the Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka Donors Group, from Japan, the European Community, Norway and the United Kingdom met with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leaders in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka to urge an immediate end to violence and to encourage them to engage positively with the government in peace talks. The United States, also one of the Co-Chairs, reiterates this message in the strongest possible terms. We are deeply concerned about the continued erosion of Sri Lanka�s four-year old ceasefire as marked by the recent series of violent incidents.
The United States recognizes that a lasting peace in Sri Lanka can only be achieved by Sri Lankans. We call on both sides to embrace peace and work together to build a future for Sri Lanka that is prosperous and secure.
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CFA Must be Upheld- Erik Solheim
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Media Release
27 December 2005
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Statement by Minister of International Development Erik Solheim
Minister of International Development Erik Solheim expressed in a statement today his Government's deep concern about the recent increase in violence in Sri Lanka. "The high level of violence and the tragic loss of life are putting the Ceasefire Agreement at risk and will make it very difficult to secure further progress in the peace process," said Mr Solheim.
Today's claymore ambush on a Sri Lankan vehicle in Jaffna, the killings of Sri Lankan Navy sailors in Mannar on 23 December, the shooting of civilians near Jaffna University, numerous other attacks on military personnel and civilians, violence against Muslims and the assassination of parliamentarian Joseph Parajasingham during Mass on Christmas Eve are terrible and tragic events. Mr Solheim said that all acts of violence must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
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LTTE�s Contempt of Diplomatic Efforts by Co-Chair Countries
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Media Release
27 December 2005
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This afternoon the LTTE attacked a convoy of Army vehicles in the general area of Orankatte in the Jaffna peninsula by exploding a claymore mine. As a result of the explosion, 10 Army personnel were killed and 5 injured. The government condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms.
This attack comes two days after a delegation of the Co-Chair countries met the LTTE in Kilinochchi and delivered a strong message, which the respective Capitals wanted communicated to the LTTE. The LTTE has shown complete contempt to the diplomatic efforts made by the Co-Chair countries. It is clear that the LTTE as in the past has shown scant regard for diplomatic efforts and messages. The government calls upon the Co-Chair countries to follow-through with the intended consequences at the earliest. We believe that such actions could take the strain off the ceasefire, by preventing the escalation of violence.
The government expresses its condolences to the families of the Army personnel killed in the explosion.
Director Information
Department of Government Information
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Assassination- An Assault On Democracy
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Media Release
25 December 2005
Statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat
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In the early hours of this morning, Hon. Joseph Pararajasingham, Member of Parliament for the Batticaloa district from the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) was assassinated while he was attending Christmas midnight mass at St. Mary�s Co-Cathedral in Batticaloa. It is believed that the gunmen were seated in the pew behind Hon. Pararajasingham when the attack took place. Seven persons have also been injured including the wife of Hon. Pararajasingham.
The government condemns this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms. The government also denounces the disrespect shown by the assassins to the sanctity of a church on Christmas day.
The assassination of an elected Member of Parliament (MP) is an assault on the very heart of democracy. It is clear that this assassination has been carried out to serve a specific agenda, in that it creates the environment to further escalate the cycle of violence in the North and East perpetuated by the LTTE.
The government has instructed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to appoint a special investigation team to conduct a full investigation into this assassination and bring to justice the perpetrators.
The President and the government wish to express its deepest condolences to the family of Hon. Pararajarasingham, and seek the quick recovery of Mrs. Pararajasingham and the other injured.
The President has offered to provide additional security to the ITAK Members of Parliament in consultation with them.
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