Sri Lanka is engaging in strengthening ethnic harmony while working for achieving a lasting peace, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms, Mano Tittawella said.
He was addressing an international conference on reparation held in Colombo yesterday under the theme ‘Moving from a divided past to a shared future’. The event was organised by the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM) with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
In moving ahead with the setting up of a reparation system in Sri Lanka, the conference provides a platform for mutual dialogue and consultation around the key elements of informed, fair, transparent and efficient decision-making by soliciting international expert advice and learning from the experiences of other countries that went through similar processes and challenges.
The conference had around 160 participants from around the globe representing government and non-government sectors, development partners, the United Nations, NGOs, civil society organisations, academics and other stakeholders.
Tittawella added that there is a good opportunity for the country to achieve lasting peace and to strengthen harmony. The country suffered a lot for decades as a result of terrorism. But now there is a better opportunity for the country to move towards lasting peace. Therefore the government has taken many measures to take the reconciliation process forward.
“The government has allocated Rs 12.5 billion in the recent budget to take the reconciliation process forward,” he noted.
Moves are being taken to increase the infrastructure facilities of the people affected by terrorism. He added that issues of the resettled peoples are being solved.
Addressing the gathering, IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission Giuseppe Crocetti appreciated the cordial cooperation of the Sri Lankan government concerning the field of reparation. He added that the IOM is working on minimising the issues of migrants, while the UN is drawing its utmost attention on displaced people. Besides, several measures such as capacity building and working to avoid conflicts are being taken by the IOM.
Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Bryce Hutchesson said the Australian government is working hand in hand with Sri Lanka to take the reconciliation process forward. The Australian government has allocated US$ 560 million during the last few years for strengthening the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.
“Time has arisen for Sri Lanka to move from a divided past to a shared future,” Hutchesson said.
Add new comment