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Norway will assist Sri Lanka in its struggle to find a solution to the North and East conflict and help the people who are in the middle of the struggle as a gesture of the long standing relations between the two countries, the Secretary of State and the Head of the Development Cooperation Delegation of the Norwegian Government Sigrun Mogedal said yesterday. "We are impatient till Sri Lanka finds a permanent solution to the North and East conflict and we will extend maximum possible assistance to Sri Lanka in order to find a solution as peace is not a contact its a relationship between the parties", Ms.Mogedal said. She said that when finding a lasting solution to a vexed problem there can be ups and downs but confidence-building measures should not be abandoned. She said, "we are highly impressed with Lanka's high human rights standards and economic achievements despite fighting an expensive war," Mogedal said. She said that the Norway is very concerned about the depoliticisation of Public Administration and the elimination of corruption in order to maintain good governance. The delegation also signed two agreements to provide Rs.160 million to establish a National Cleaner Production Centre and for Integrated Rural Development projects. Development and Deputy Minister of Finance G.L. Peiris said the Government is very keen to end the North and East conflict at the earliest possible opportunity to achieve greater heights in economic and social development. Despite fighting war, Sri Lanka achieved a 4.3 per cent growth rate and 17 per cent export growth rate last year mainly due to the Government's strict fiscal discipline, he added. The Minister said that Sri Lanka experienced a difficult period last year after the fall of the Elephant Pass Military base, which resulted in a rise of the defence expenditure to Rs. 84 billion. We plan to bring down the defence expenditure to 5.5 percent of the GDP this year. Prof. Peiris said: "the Government's new Constitution addresses vital issues which concern minority communities. In addition, four vital commissions which would help minimise corruption and improve public administration in the country has also been encompassed in the proposed Constitution as the Government is ready to take all measures to eradicate corruption in the Public Service. The Judicial Service Commission and the Public Service Commission also function independently in order to maintain a high standard of public service". Minister Peiris also noted that the Government established the Child Protection Authority, reactivated the Human Rights Commission and set up the Anti Harassment Committee to assure the human rights of citizens. He said the Government would also appoint a Deputy Ombudsman.
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