President briefs Asian & Middle East diplomats
[Thursday, December 07, 2006 - 8.30 GMT]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who met diplomats from five SAARC countries and other Asian and Middle Eastern countries today, briefed them on the causes
that led to the promulgation of the new regulations to combat terrorism. 

This was the first meeting between the President and diplomats since the promulgation of the new regulations yesterday.
 
President Rajapaksa told the 19 High Commissioners and Ambassadors he met at Temple Trees that the new regulations were necessitated by the LTTE continuing resort to terrorism and violence in its attempts to obtain a separate state.  

The diplomats were told that the new regulations did not shut down the door to negotiations with the LTTE, if they were honest in the search for peace and a political solution, and could help the LTTE to enter the democratic mainstream. 

The diplomats were also informed of the situation in the North and East, and how the government was handling the supply of food, other essential commodities and medicines to Jaffna. They were also made aware of the
situation regarding the ongoing and uninterrupted development work in the North and East. 

Those who met the President today were the Acting High Commissioners for India, and High Commissioners for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Ambassador of Nepal, from the SAARC region. The Heads of Missions of
Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar,  Korea, Japan and China from the South East Asian and Far Eastern Region, and the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Palestine, Iran, Libya and Egypt from the Middle East. 

President Rajapaksa is due to meet diplomats from other countries tomorrow.


 

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Last Updated Date: December 07, 2006 -8.30 GMT