Sri Lanka has vowed to prevent a return to the conditions that fuelled its decades-long civil war, rejecting racism and religious extremism while pursuing national reconciliation….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Sri Lanka has reiterated its determination to prevent a return to the conditions that led to its decades-long civil war, rejecting racism and religious extremism while pursuing national unity and reconciliation.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the government remained committed to ensuring that the causes of the conflict did not re-emerge.
“We are determined to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy and to pursue a path towards national unity and reconciliation,” Herath said.
He said that in the two years since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected, the government had maintained its opposition to racism and religious extremism.
“We have remained firm in our rejection of racism and religious extremism in all its forms and manifestations,” Herath said.
The conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatists lasted from 1983 until 2009. According to UN estimates cited in the statement, more than 90,000 people were killed during the conflict, which also had repercussions beyond Sri Lanka, including in India, where former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.
Seventeen years after the fighting ended, Herath said the consequences of the conflict continued to be felt.
“the deep wounds of that conflict remain, and much remains to be done to heal them,” he said.
He said Sri Lanka was strengthening national institutions to address outstanding issues and would continue efforts towards building a secure, inclusive and united country.
Herath said Sri Lanka’s diversity should be seen as a source of strength as the government pursued reconciliation and national unity.
The foreign minister also highlighted Sri Lanka’s humanitarian response to sailors affected by recent conflict in the region.
He recalled the country’s efforts to rescue and provide assistance to sailors from Iranian vessels in distress near Sri Lankan waters, describing the operation as requiring the government to navigate diplomatic sensitivities while using limited resources.
The Iranian Navy ship Dena, which had been in international waters off Sri Lanka after taking part in a naval exercise in India, was hit by a US submarine in March, according to Herath.
Sri Lanka rescued 32 sailors from the Dena, while another Iranian vessel, the Bushehr, was given refuge. The country also received 204 sailors, who were later repatriated to Iran.
Herath said Sri Lanka’s humanitarian response reflected the wider challenges facing countries affected by conflicts in West Asia and other regions.
“like many other countries,” Sri Lanka was experiencing severe consequences from conflicts, he said, with their effects extending to security, economic and social conditions.
He said the continuing impact of conflicts around the world underlined the importance of international cooperation and humanitarian action.
