Galle Dialogue 2011:

November 15, 2011, 10:01 pm

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by Shamindra Ferdinando reporting from Galle

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris on Monday (14) declared Sri Lanka’s readiness to work with the Tamil Diaspora, while urging the international community to take tangible action against those still pursuing the LTTE’s eelam project.

The Minister stressed that the government wouldn’t want to demonize the Diaspora and was willing to work with it in the post-war era.

Addressing delegates representing 19 countries at the Galle Dialogue, a two-day maritime security conference at Light House Hotel, Galle, Prof. Peiris pushed for tough action against those propagating hate and violence.

Peiris expressed concern over the failure on the part of a section of the international community to take action against the LTTE in spite of it being proscribed in 32 countries, including the 27-member European Union.

The display of the banned outfit’s flag abroad was a manifestation of the failure on the part of the international community to cripple the LTTE. The LTTE continued to raise funds overseas, though losing its conventional military capability in May 2009, he noted.

Although Minister Peiris didn’t blame any particular country for allowing the LTTE to do as it pleased, the most recent instance of the LTTE displaying its flag was reported during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2011) in Perth, Western Australia. The LTTE operating in the UK, too, continue to display its flag in public.

The US, Australia, India, France and Iran are among the countries participating at the conference.

Senior Additional Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ms Shenuka Seneviratne, was present on the occasion. Responding to a query by The Island, the Senior Additional Secretary said that CHOGM 2011 had called for Diaspora communities to invest in their countries of origin, thereby helped re-building efforts. Having articulated the link between migration and development, CHOGM 2011 affirmed the importance of adopting migration strategies that would reduce the cost of migration, and create incentives for Diaspora communities to invest their financial resources and expertise in the development of their countries of origin;

Minister Peiris pointed out that there were 19 countries at the confab, though the inaugural meet attracted only 10 nations. Referring to the recently concluded SAARC and CHOGM 2011, where participating countries, having recognized the threat posed by piracy to international trade, agreed to take further action to neutralize the threat, Prof. Peiris paid a glowing tribute to the Sri Lanka Navy for finishing off Sea Tigers on the high seas.

Prof. Peiris emphasized the importance of taking all possible measures to ensure safety and security of sea routes. Referring to the speech delivered earlier in the day by US Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Southeast Asia, Department of Defence, Robert Scher, Minister Peiris said the US, too, had appreciated SLN’s achievements in the battle against maritime terrorism.

Scher said: "Sri Lanka has a lot of experience in conducting maritime operations and this is an area where all of our nations clearly share common interests." The US official went on to say: "I would also like to recognize the Government of Sri Lanka for taking a leadership role on an issue of such import. The Galle Dialogue provides us with an excellent forum for regional stakeholders to share perspectives, experiences and lessons learned in the maritime domain."