Rajapakse appeals to all Sri Lankans to join hands in national building; Sri Lankan FM briefs EAM Krishna on rehabilitation of displaced people; Troops discover LTTE submarine; Sri Lanka urges to constructively engage post-LTTE Sri Lanka
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    • Sri Lankan President Rajapakse, addressing members of the Muslim community in Kandy, appealed to all Sri Lankans to join hands in national building. He added that efforts should be made towards developing the country on an “equitable basis without any communal or regional distinctions1.”

    Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama briefed his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna on the “substantive progress” made by Colombo on the “issue of internally displaced people.” EAM Krishna on his part assured the Sri Lankan Minister that India would do its utmost to help the displaced people. Mr. Krishna also hoped that Colombo will be able to fulfill its promise of rehabilitating displaced refugees within 180 days of the end of the war2.

    Reports meanwhile noted that troops in Mullaitivu discovered a submarine used by the LTTE for their underwater operations. The security forces were in search of this submarine for over two months3.

    Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU urged the EU to constructively engage post-LTTE Sri Lanka. The Ambassador briefed the EU members on the rehabilitation efforts being undertaken by the government4.

    The IMF on its part agreed to give a $2.5 billion Stand-By Arrangement grant to Sri Lanka. The money would be spent towards rebuilding reserves, reducing the fiscal deficit and for strengthening the financial sector5. The ADB has also decided to increase its lending by fifty percent to expedite the process of reconstruction work in the country. The Bank aims to increase Sri Lanka’s annual allocation to $300 million in 2010 from $200 million in order to support infrastructure projects in the north and the east6.

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