MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (29 May - 1 June 2012)

Minister Shanmugam speaking to inhabitants in the resettlement village (Photo: MFA)
 

As part of his first official visit to Sri Lanka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam visited Trincomalee, a port city in the Eastern Province, on 30 May 2012 and Jaffna, the capital city of the Northern Province, on 31 May 2012. He met the Governor of the Eastern Province Mohan Wijewickrama and Governor of the Northern Province G A Chandrasiri and other local leaders in both cities. They briefed him on their respective development plans and priorities. The focus in Trincomalee was in building up tourism, agriculture and fisheries. Minister Shanmugam also visited the Prima Flour Mill. Prima is the largest Singapore-based investor in Sri Lanka, and has been established in Trincomalee since 1977.

In Jaffna, Minister Shanmugam saw a province that was slowly recovering from the decades-long conflict. He was briefed on the reconstruction and development efforts in Jaffna. In his meetings, Minister said that Singapore would be happy to consider some technical assistance in capacity building, such as skills upgrading and teacher-training in computer literacy.

Minister Shanmugam visited the iconic Jaffna Public Library, once the foremost library in the region, which suffered extensive destruction during the civil war and has since been rebuilt. In 2011, Singapore contributed a project to refurbish the Children’s Section of the Library and provided training of Jaffna librarians. Minister Shanmugam met the Chief Librarian and the library staff who received training in Singapore.

Minister Shanmugam said that “I am very happy to see that a project by Singapore is helping so many children in Jaffna. The local officials have asked for further assistance to enhance the Library, including the library data management system. I promised them that Singapore will certainly help where we can, to build on our earlier contribution. This is a worthwhile project. It will have a great impact on the lives of the children of Jaffna.”

Minister Shanmugam also visited a village which resettled displaced persons. He was briefed by local officials on the progress of resettlement. He visited some of the houses and talked to the inhabitants. Minister Shanmugam said that “Rebuilding is taking place. The government and local officials are focused on reconstruction and helping the people find new livelihoods. The international community should do what we can to help them so that they can have a better future.”

Minister Shanmugam had the opportunity to stop by the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, a historically significant Hindu temple that remains an important religious and social institution in Jaffna today.

Earlier, Minister Shanmugam met his counterparts Minister of External Affairs Prof. G L Peiris and Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem on 30 May 2012 in Colombo. Minister Shanmugam and Minister Peiris reaffirmed the friendly bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970. Minister Peiris updated Minister Shanmugam on post-conflict developments in Sri Lanka, and the steps taken by the government towards national reconciliation. The two ministers agreed that there was scope for expanding linkages in the areas of trade and investment, technical assistance and people-to-people ties. Minister Shanmugam reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to further bilateral cooperation and wished Sri Lanka well as it undertook efforts towards national reconciliation as part of a process based on fact and involving all parties at home. Minister Shanmugam exchanged views with Minister Hakeem on the development of the legal systems in Singapore and Sri Lanka respectively. The Ministers agreed to explore cooperation in technical assistance to enhance legal training and exchanges.

In his interaction with business leaders at the seminar cum networking session organised by the Singapore Business Federation and the Sri Lanka-Singapore Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 30 May 2012, Minister Shanmugam shared their hope that the restoration of peace and reconciliation would bring about opportunities in trade and investment, education and tourism, which would mutually benefit people in both countries and bring about greater prosperity. Minister Shanmugam and Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen jointly witnessed the signing of the MOU between the Singapore Business Federation and the Sri Lanka-Singapore Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce aimed at stepping up greater economic exchanges.

. . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
1 JUNE 2012