The first priority of the government after the war, was addressing humanitarian concerns to ensure resettlement and reconciliation, including early returns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes, External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said.

Briefing diplomats, academics and officials on the current situation in Sri Lanka, invited by the Institute of South Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore to deliver an address on ‘The Current Situation in Sri Lanka and The Way Forward,’ the minister said that after almost three decades, the government has been successful in restoring peace, stability and security in all parts of the country.

He said that 95 percent of the displaced have been resettled in their original places of domicile or in new homes.

“The very small number remaining in the camps stay there willingly. They visit relatives and return to the camps of their own free will,” the minister said.

Another crucial part of the humanitarian efforts made by the government was the integration of ex-combatants into society.

Minister Peiris said that this was more a human story than a political story, emphasizing that 140 of these young ex combatants have been successful at the GCE A’ level examination.

Referring to the political aspect of the current situation in Sri Lanka, Prof. Peiris said that the government has embarked on negotiations with the elected representatives of the Tamil community and has already completed five rounds of talks with Tamil political parties. On the Tamil Diaspora, Prof Peiris stressed that Sri Lanka was engaged in talking to some sections inviting them to take a hand in the country’s economic and social development and help improve the livelihood of people in the North and East. “We encourage the Tamil Diaspora to involve themselves in developmental activities,” he said.