USD 70 million pledged for rebuilding war-torn areas 
[November 27, 2002 - 9.30 GMT ]

Twenty-two countries and the European Union which met in Oslo on 25 November pledged to provide immediate financial assistance of 70 million US dollars to Sri Lanka. The amount does not include soft loans. 

This is in addition to the normal aid given to Sri Lanka both bilaterally and multi-laterally.

Making the Opening Speech at the Conference, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen said, “It is my hope that this meeting will contribute to achieving the vision outlined by H.E. President Kumaratunga in her recent Address to the Nation: to rebuild Sri Lanka, so that all its peoples could live with dignity and equal opportunity.”

The government representatives from the Asia-Pacific region, North America and Europe expressed their strong support for the peace process between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“We are very satisfied with the strong political support from this conference, and that it has led to immediate action regarding financial assistance,” Vidar Helgesen, Deputy Minister of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The declaration from the meeting urged both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to exert further expeditious and systematic efforts without recourse to violence, to resolve the key political issues in order to achieve a lasting political settlement after decades of protracted conflict.

“We urgently appeal to all the people of Sri Lanka, their political leaders and institutions to support a national consensus on the need for a final political settlement. To this end, we encourage the elected representatives of the people of Sri Lanka, on whom the ultimate responsibility for the country’s destiny falls, to address their challenging task with courage and vision,” the declaration said.

The declaration said that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have already taken resolute steps towards peace. 

“We therefore pledge to support their efforts with financial assistance to the people of Sri Lanka and continued encouragement to the parties in their search for a lasting peace through a negotiated final resolution of the conflict,” the declaration concludes.

The Oslo Conference was the first international support meeting for the peace process in Sri Lanka.

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Last Updated Date: November 27, 2002  - 9.30 GMT.