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Monday, April 25, 2011 - 04.00 GMT |
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SL humanitarian operation — “model for the
whole world” - SL envoy in US |
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Sri Lankan’s continued economic expansion, job creation and redevelopment are central to the effort to sustain lasting peace nearly two years after the defeat of terrorism, according to Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States.
Speaking at an Asia Society breakfast meeting, Ambassador Wickramasuriya noted that “peace is the ultimate human right,” and “without it nations can’t prosper and citizens can’t be happy.
“Our view is that economic growth and prosperity will continue to guarantee post-conflict stability.”
The breakfast forum was moderated by Ambassador Teresita Schaffer, who served as U.S. envoy to Sri Lanka in the mid-1990s. She raised questions about the criticism of Sri Lanka military as it defeated the LTTE terrorist group in May 2009.
Ambassador Wickramasuriya explained that the LTTE was holding civilians as human shields, and that Sri Lankan troops moved slowly into LTTE areas to prevent casualties and also to open up rescue paths for the civilians. Eventually the civilians successfully fled from the LTTE to government troops.
“This humanitarian operation was a model for the whole world,” the ambassador said. “The president’s clear instructions to the forces were, ‘Rescue the civilians from the LTTE, but make sure of a zero (civilian) casualty rate.’
“We established no fire zones and opened up rescue paths for the civilians. Sri Lankan soldiers died doing this. We knew where the LTTE leader was. We did not want to harm civilians. That is how the civilians were rescued. In fact, 12,000 terrorists also escaped pretending to be civilians. We have since resettled all the civilians and we have given the terrorists amnesty and job and education training.”
“Since then, not one single incident – not one death – has occurred due to terrorism in Sri Lanka.”
Most of the Asia Society discussion focused on Sri Lanka’s economy, which has shown 8 percent GDP growth just two years after the conflict, despite the global economic downturn.
Foreign investment in Sri Lanka should top $1 billion in 2011, according to Sri Lanka’s Central Bank.
“Last month I accompanied nine U.S. companies to Sri Lanka so they could explore investment opportunities there. These companies included the likes of Boeing, John Deere and Coca-Cola, Transinnova, AGL Partners and Venture Global Partners.
“Starwood Hotels, Hilton and Marriott have all shown renewed interest in Sri Lanka and are currently scouting sites both in Colombo and for resort properties.”
Tourism has rebounded with a 48 percent increase in 2010 compared to 2009, the ambassador said. That amounted to about 650,000 visitors last year.
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