US speaks of progress in Sri Lanka under new Government

Saturday, 28 February 2015 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United States has noted the progress that has taken place in Sri Lanka under the new Government that assumed office last month. US Secretary of State John Kerry has noted the marked progress in Sri Lanka after the new Government took office. Kerry has expressed these views while addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives in Congress. “I see more democracy in places where it was non-existent or troubled – big changes in Sri Lanka and other countries. We can run the list. But I hope you will sense that it is not all doom and gloom that we are looking at. Tough issues? Yes. But enormous opportunities for transformation if we will do our job and continue to be steady and put on the table the resources necessary to take advantage of this moment of transformation,” Kerry has said. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera earlier this month visited the US and discussed with the US officials on the policies of the new Government and the need to strengthen bilateral relations.

Germany notes positive changes

The German Government says it is keenly observing the positive developments in Sri Lanka and a top official from Germany will also visit Sri Lanka next month. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany Karunatillake Amunugama met the German State Secretary Markus Ederer at the Federal Foreign Office to brief him on steps that have been taken by the current Government to establish good governance, national reconciliation as well as strengthening democratic institutions and rule of law in Sri Lanka, the Asian Tribune website reported.

In reply, State Secretary Ederer stated that the positive developments in Sri Lanka were observed keenly by the German Government. State Secretary Ederer conveyed that his Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ambassador Peter Prügel, would be visiting Sri Lanka in the beginning of next month and expressed his confidence that Ambassador Prügel’s visit to Sri Lanka would open a new era in bilateral relations. He furthermore added that his Government looks forward to work with the new Government via technical cooperation and many other fields and is awaiting the recommendations of Ambassador Prügel after his forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Amunugama also mentioned the invitation extended to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera by German Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which has been accepted by the Sri Lankan Minister. State Secretary Ederer said that he would brief his Minister on the new developments and look for an early date to receive the Sri Lankan Minister. Ambassador Amunugama further stated that the issues pertaining to two German Political Foundations, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), have been resolved and there is no impediment for the said foundations to continue to work in Sri Lanka. While acknowledging the long-standing service provided by the two foundations in promoting relations between the two countries in a wide range of fields, Ambassador Amunugama invited the German foundations to re-commence their activities at the earliest. Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Ambassador Peter Prügel, Desk Officer for Sri Lanka Fabian Richter of the Federal Foreign Office, Deputy Chief of Mission Chaminda Colonne and First Secretary R. Kohularangn of the Sri Lankan Embassy also participated in the discussions. (Colombo Gazette)