Israel committed to Lanka’s economic
development, Israeli Peres tells Prof. Peiris.

February 27, 2013, 10:36 pm

Israeli President Shimon Peres, congratulating Sri Lanka on her achievement in eradicating terrorism, said Tuesday (26) that Israel stands firmly committed to supporting the development of the country’s economy in the prevailing environment of peace and stability.

He made these remarks when External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, called on him at the President’s Office in Jerusalem.

Minister Peiris explained to President Peres the steps being taken by the government of Sri Lanka to carry forward development and reconciliation after the thirty year conflict, and the progress which had been achieved in the different sectors. He emphasized inclusivity as the basis of Sri Lanka’s approach, with the objective that all the people of the country would benefit from the development now taking place. The Minister described the benefits flowing from the priority accorded by the government to the improvement of infrastructure, including highways, railroad systems, harbours and airports. He briefed President Peres about the challenges which Sri Lanka is currently facing at the international level.

The President of Israel, reaffirming that his country’s assistance is readily available to Sri Lanka, discussed with the visiting Sri Lankan Minister areas in which inputs from Israel would be of particular value. President Peres and Minister Peiris discussed Israel’s special expertise with regard to water, and the usefulness of further projects connected with drip irrigation, an area in which Israel has developed sophisticated techniques and other aids to agricultural productivity. The other fields identified for collaboration included micro finance for cottage industries and small and medium scale rural projects and skills development among youth by having recourse to information technology. Reference was made to the importance of strengthening links among the business communities in the two countries to operationalize projects in the selected fields rapidly.

Peiris visits Israel and Palestine
Photographs: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facebook page-02 March 2013

Lanka’s Foreign Minister GL Peiris has had a busy schedule over the last week, visiting both Palestinian and Israeli Presidents in visits to Ramallah and Jerusalem.

On meeting Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas in Ramallah, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence reported,

“President Abbas, recalling with his visits to Sri Lanka in 2008 and 2012, said that he was grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who, as President of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement in Sri Lanka for over 35 years, identified very closely with the aspirations of the Palestinian people.
He said that the Palestinian Foreign Relations Commission expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka during its war against terrorism and continues to support Sri Lanka strongly in all its initiatives after the achievement of peace”.

Meanwhile the Jerusalem Post reported that Peiris had been on a “private visit” in the West Bank and Ramallah, prior to his three day stay in Israel where he met President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Intelligence Affairs Minister Dan Meridor.

Peiris spoke at the University of Tel Aviv and, according to The Island, “briefed President Peres about the challenges which Sri Lanka is currently facing at the international level”.

The Jerusalem Post went on to say,

"Israel and Sri Lanka renewed diplomatic ties in 2000, and reportedly have a robust military relationship. Israeli weaponry, including Kfir planes and naval boats, have been attributed with helping the Sri Lankan government defeat the Tamil Tigers in 2009".

Palestine a steadfast friend of Lanka - Abbas

2/26/2013

Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas said his country deeply appreciated the consistent goodwill and support it had received from Sri Lanka throughout its struggle for international recognition.

He told Minister of External Affairs Professor G. L. Peiris that Palestine could always be counted on as a steadfast friend of Sri Lanka.

Minister Peiris who met Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday expressed Sri Lanka's pleasure with the adoption of the historic resolution on enhancement of the status of Palestine in the United Nations and the support extended by 138 countries in the United Nations General Assembly to upgrade the status of Palestine as a Non-Member Observer State. He said that Sri Lanka supports Palestines application for admission as a full member of the United Nations.

President Abbas, recalling with his visits to Sri Lanka in 2008 and 2012, said that he was grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who, as President of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement in Sri Lanka for over 35 years, identified very closely with the aspirations of the Palestinian people. He said that the Palestinian Foreign Relations Commission expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka during its war against terrorism and continues to support Sri Lanka strongly in all its initiatives after the achievement of peace.

He especially thanked Sri Lanka for its references to the cause of the Palestinian people at the session of the United Nations General Assembly every year and commented that the commitment contributed in substantial measure to the success which Palestine had achieved.

Prof. Peiris reiterated Sri Lanka's support for the two-State solution, based on successive resolutions of the United Nations, with emphasis on security of each States within its borders. President Abbas described the current issues with which the State of Palestine was grappling, including the building of settlements and issues connected with prisoners on hunger strike. On his part, Minister Peiris gave President Abbas a briefing on the challenges which Sri Lanka was facing after the eradication of terrorism and in particular current developments in the Human Rights Council.

Abbas and Peiris identified several fields appropriate for close collaboration between Sri Lanka and Palestine. This included mutual support in international fora, especially in the context of Sri Lanka's focus on strengthening bilateral relations with the Arab world. It was decided to build on four agreements already concluded between the two countries, in the areas of economic collaboration, political consultations, technical co-operation and the training of primary education teachers.

Dr. Riad Al-Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, with whom the visiting Sri Lankan Minister had a separate meeting, was present at the discussion at the President's Office.