Saudi Arabia fully supports Lanka’s efforts to counter terrorism

SAUDI ARABIA: HRH Prince Saud Al Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said that his government will fully support Sri Lanka in countering terrorism and bringing about a lasting settlement to the ongoing conflict in the country, when he met Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama provided a detailed account on the situation in the country and the steps taken by the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in this regard.

Bogollagama added “We have been waiting for 30 years to seek a settlement within the existing legal and constitutional framework.” However, the LTTE has exhibited its intransigence and assassinated former President R. Premadasa, former Indian Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and many other national leaders.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga also lost her eye in another suicide assassination attempt. The LTTE has killed leading democratic Tamil politicians in their attempt to foist a fascist regime on the Tamil people.

There is no justified reason for their cause. 90,000 Muslims living in Jaffna have been subjected to ethnic cleansing by the LTTE. The Muslim population of Sri Lanka has been living in harmony with all communities said Minister Bogollagama.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been able to bring together all political parties represented in Parliament, including the main Opposition and a number of Tamil and Muslim parties in the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which has gone through a painstaking process with the aim of evolving a Southern consensus to devolve power.

Answering a question posed by Foreign Minister HRH Prince Saud Al Faisal regarding sources of funds to the LTTE, the Minister replied that the LTTE is extorting money from the Tamil Diaspora , especially in the West. They are also involved in money laundering, drug trafficking and human smuggling.

When earnings of expatriate workers are remitted to their home countries, bypassing regular banking channels, there is a strong possibility of such funds being diverted to terrorist and illicit activities.

Bilateral talks focused on the need for fast tracking negotiations on concluding an extradition treaty, avoidance of double taxation agreement, and an investment promotion and protection agreement.

Both Ministers also agreed on the need to commence negotiations on a new Bilateral air services agreement to replace the existing agreement which was signed in 1991.

Minister Bogollagama took the opportunity to brief his Saudi counterpart on the launching of the second national carrier Mihin Air in Sri Lanka and emphasized the need to secure flight right for this airline under the proposed new agreement.

Minister Bogollagama brought to the notice of HRH Prince Faisal, details of the project to construct Sri Lanka’s second international airport in Weerawila, costing $175 million, of which $100 million will be from the Sri Lankan government.

The Minister requested the Saudi Arabian government to provide the balance funding. The Saudi Foreign Minister stated that the Saudi Fund for Development is available for such purposes and requested for a feasibility report to be submitted to the relevant authorities.

Prince Saud Al Faisal accepted Minister Bogollagama’s invitation to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient date.