COLOMBO: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher will call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa here on Tuesday for consultations on the volatile security situation.

The visit assumes significance in the wake of the three aerial raids by the Tamil Tigers since March 26 and the Government's call to the international community for help in meeting the challenge.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama said the U.S. official would hold talks with him also. He would visit Jaffna for an assessment of the ground situation.

Concerns

Like the rest of the international community, Washington too is concerned about the humanitarian crisis triggered by the undeclared war between the forces and the Tigers and allegations of human rights violations. While Colombo wants Washington to step up defence co-operation, the Bush Administration desires that the Government pay greater attention to the needs of the internally displaced and bring to book those responsible for human rights violations.

Mr. Bogollagama said the Government had decided to lift restrictions on travel to east for the diplomats and the NGOs with immediate effect. Diplomats need not seek the Government's permission to visit the three districts in the east.

The Minister, who earlier briefed the diplomatic community based in Colombo, said the main Opposition, the United National Party (UNP), should follow the example of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and submit its proposals to the All Party Representatives Conference (APRC) on resolution of the ethnic conflict.

When pointed out that the SLFP was yet to submit its set of proposals to the APRC, the Minister said they were with the President who was giving final touches to the recommendations made by the central committee of the party.

To a question, he said with the SLFP proposing district as unit of devolution, provincial system as envisaged under the 13th amendment to the Constitution would become irrelevant. The amendment was a follow up to the 1987 India-Sri Lanka Accord.

Defence spokesperson and Minister Rembukwella Keheliya said the Government was reviewing the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) as it had been violated for over 4,000 times. However, the Foreign Minister said the proposal had not "reached his desk".

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail