Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama urged the Australian government to proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organization and said such a measure would provide the legal framework for the authorities to take effective action against fund raising and propaganda activities by the LTTE and its fronts operating on Australian soil.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who arrived in Singapore last morning held bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Australia, Myanmar, Laos, South Korea, and the Philippines on the sidelines of the 15th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

During Foreign Minister Bogollagama’s meeting with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith, he noted that the Sri Lankan expatriate community in Australia has made a significant contribution towards national development. However, he expressed serious concern over the activities of the LTTE and its front organizations through its influence over certain misguided elements in the Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia.

At his meeting with the Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, Minister Bogollagama shared his views on the benefits of ARF membership for countries in the Asia-Pacific region as a useful platform to discuss defence and security co-operation, as well as matters of mutual concern to member states. The Myanmar Foreign Minister thanked Sri Lanka for the generous and spontaneous assistance given to the victims of the recent Cyclone Nargis which struck Myanmar.

Minister Bogollagama apprised the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongioun Sisoulith, on the current situation in Sri Lanka and efforts taken by the Government to combat LTTE terrorism. In this context, he emphasized the need to curb LTTE operations in the region, such as money laundering, illicit arms procurement and human trafficking which have far reaching consequences on countries affected by its network. Both sides agreed to take early follow up action to conclude an MOU on defence and intelligence co-operation.

During the course of the day, Minister Bogollagama had al discussion with the South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Yu Myung Hwan on matters of mutual interest. At the outset, the South Korean Minister indicated their intention to actively engage in the SAARC region to develop an effective partnership. He also noted that Sri Lanka has been identified by South Korea as one of the priority countries for economic cooperation. Minister Bogollagama expressed his appreciation for the economic assistance extended by South Korea for Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development in the last three decades. In particular, he was thankful to the Korean Government for offering lucrative employment opportunities for a large number of Sri Lankans and said that Sri Lanka is keen to send larger number of skilled workers to South Korea for employment. The two sides also discussed the situation in Korean Peninsula among other regional and multi-lateral issues.

The final bilateral meeting of the day for Foreign Minister Bogollagama was with his Philippine counterpart, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Alberto G. Romulo. They recalled their previous meeting in Manila in August 2007 and reviewed the progress achieved in regard to the signing of an MOU on defence co-operation, Philippine assistance for the establishment of a Coast Guard Unit in Sri Lanka and training of Sri Lankan security forces personnel in the Philippines. The Philippine Foreign Secretary said that Filipinos had great affection towards the people of Sri Lanka and that he was particularly impressed with Sri Lanka’s natural scenic beauty. Minister Bogollagama briefed his Philippine counterpart extensively on Sri Lanka’s current developments, military action against the LTTE, restoration of democracy and elections in the Eastern Province where civil administration has been established after a lapse of over twenty years.