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NATIONAL DAY SPEECH 2006
by
Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke
Ayubowan,
Vanakkam,
Assalamu Alaikum,
Good Evening.
Sri Lanka
As we meet here, today, to celebrate the 58th
National Day, Sri Lanka is preparing itself to address one of
the most intractable issues it had to face since independence.
The conflict in Sri Lanka has gone through several phases in the
past few years. However, with considerable patience and foresight
of our political leaders and the support of our international
friends, late last month we have been able to halt the sliding
backwards of the peace process. I am confident that with the good
will of all parties concerned, we will be able to address all
issues confronting Sri Lanka and to find lasting solutions.
Economic development contributes a great deal
to peace and security of a country. If people can expect reasonable
economic prospects and a secure environment, there will be fewer
reasons for discontent and feelings of marginalisation. President
Mahinda Rajapaksa has spelt out a vision to expand the economic
growth and ensure that economic development trickles down to rural
areas, where the bulk of our people live. We all have a responsibility
to make that vision come true.
As we strive towards these goals, the support
Sri Lanka receives from the international community is crucial,
particularly that of the United States.
US-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations
Over the past year or so, we have seen possibly
the most active support of the US government in Sri Lankan affairs
in recent times. What is significant is that this support has
not been confined to any particular administration or personality,
but has grown out of the mutuality of values upheld, as well as
the common interests pursued by our two countries.
- You would all recall the magnanimous gesture of goodwill and
tangible support offered following the ‘Tsunami’,
not only by the Government and private sector in the U.S., but
also by millions of private individuals including school children.
Eight months later, Sri Lanka responded in a modest manner,
when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.
- Recent pronouncements made by the US administration, particularly
during Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s recent visit
to the U.S., as well as statements made in Colombo by the US
Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jeff Lunstead and US Under Secretary
for Political Affairs Ambassador Nicholas Burns reflect the
commitment of the U.S. Government to safeguard Sri Lanka’s
territorial integrity and to support our pursuit of a durable
peace.
- The U.S. legislature recognises that even as the U.S. help
create new democracies, it must also help protect old democracies
that are under siege. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, Senator Richard Lugar, who commended Sri Lanka’s
democratic tradition said to Minister Samaraweera last month,
the support of the U.S. Congress is assured as Sri Lanka moves
the peace process forward.
- In the area of economic relations, the support extended by
the U.S. to Sri Lanka as a recipient under the Millennium Challenge
Account has been significant. That the principles of the MCA
are consistent with and support the development priorities identified
by Sri Lanka in the areas of poverty alleviation and rural development
is noteworthy and bound to have a significant and positive impact
on the recipients.
- With respect to trade, rather than creating expectations that
cannot be fulfilled; we are adopting a more realistic approach
to secure tangible means of pursuing Sri Lanka’s vital
economic interests in the short term. In order to cushion the
adverse effects of the termination of the Multi Fibre Agreement,
which has exposed apparel and textiles to the vicissitudes of
the open market to severe competition, we are working with a
group of 14 countries including Bangladesh from our region,
to secure duty free access for Sri Lankan exports to the U.S.
market under the Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies
(TRADE Act of 2005). Meanwhile, the Joint Council under the
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which has not
met since October 2004, is now scheduled to meet in the first
half of this year.
- In the area of promoting our art and culture, where cooperation
and exchanges between our two countries were rich in the past,
but however remained dormant for a considerable period of time,
we have endeavoured to revive such relations. The performance
by sitar virtuoso Pradeep Ratnayake and his ensemble held at
the Kennedy Centre last November was the first time, when a
Sri Lankan artiste was performing there since the early 1980s.
We have in the offing, a Sri Lankan film festival at the Freer
Gallery during the course of this year.
Sri Lanka Embassy and Community
We at the Embassy are very conscious that just
as much as we are tasked to build and strengthen relations between
the U.S. and Sri Lanka in all its facets, we have an equal responsibility
to serve the needs of those of Sri Lankan origin living throughout
the United States.
- A cornerstone of this exercise must necessarily be the quality
of service we offer through the consular section of our Embassy.
Last year, upon coming to our attention of several shortcomings
that resulted in unacceptable delays, we have set in motion
a series of measures aimed at streamlining the consular process.
We request you to bring to our attention any inadequacies with
regard to the quality of service provided by our Embassy, so
that we could further address those issues.
- We are also working towards ensuring that we manage our assets
in this country prudently. Repair work on the official residence
of the Ambassador, which has been left unoccupied since the
middle of the year 2002, was started in October 2005, and we
expect to have the renovations completed by this time next year.
- Over the past few months, we have also strived hard to make
the Embassy a people friendly institution.
- Recognizing the multi cultural and multi religious nature
of our society, in May 2005, we initiated a practice to
celebrate festivals of the four great religions of our country
viz. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, to which
a small representative group of each community was invited,
along with the representatives of the greater Washington
area based Sri Lanka related associations. These events
are intended not only to help us better appreciate our respective
cultures and religions and the continued need to foster
amity among the communities, but also to ensure that the
Embassy is viewed as an inclusive institution, which caters
to the cultural, social and religious needs of all Sri Lankans.
- We have also constituted a Community Affairs Coordinating
Group, which includes representatives from all known Sri
Lanka related organisations in the greater Washington area
to enable cross fertilization of ideas. The Dayaka Sabha’s
of the D.C. and Wheaton Temples, the Sri Lanka American
Catholic Association, representatives of the Hindu and Muslim
Communities, the Sri Lanka Association of Washington D.C.,
the Ranga Kala Kavaya, the Friends of Sri Lanka in the US
(FOSUS) and the Serendipity Group are being represented
on this Committee. I am particularly pleased to inform you
that a group of young Sri Lankans, who have organised themselves
as the Sri Lankan Young Professionals Association, will
soon be joining this group. They seek to mobilise young
professionals throughout the U.S. and will serve as a point
of social interaction, discussion of current developments
relating to Sri Lanka as well as to their professions and
to offer professional mentoring to Sri Lankans, who are
entering the U.S. job market.
- The Embassy has also actively supported the initiatives
of all Sri Lankan groups that have sought its assistance
to promote Sri Lanka related events, be they religious ceremonies,
food fairs, cultural shows or exhibitions. We are conscious
that each one of you in the community is an ambassador promoting
the interests of Sri Lanka and it is only the extent of
the initiative you show, that will enable us, a small Embassy,
to function in a manner that would supplement our limited
reach. I appeal to you both as organisations as well as
individuals to play an even more active role in pursuing
the interests of Sri Lanka in the U.S. with representatives
of the administration, members of the federal and state
legislatures, international organisations, NGOs and others
of influence, to leverage policy in a manner that better
serves the interests of our country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, may I thank the considerable number
of Sri Lankans, who have taken part in the celebrations this evening,
representatives of the Department of State, and other state and
non-governmental institutions, the administration of the University
of the District of Columbia and those who have graciously accepted
our invitation to provide cultural programmes to make the event
a colourful and a memorable event.
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