MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (2 to 5 April 2014)

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam made a visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from 2 to 5 April 2014. In Colombo, Minister Shanmugam called on the President of Sri Lanka, HE Mahinda Rajapaksa, and had discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Minister of External Affairs, Prof G L Peiris, and the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

During his meetings, Minister Shanmugam discussed the positive progress in bilateral ties between Singapore and Sri Lanka, as well as various possible avenues to expand and deepen the existing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Minister Shanmugam also signed a revised Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with Minister Peiris.

Minister Shanmugam visited Jaffna and met with the Governor of the Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri, the Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Vigneswaran, and the Mayor of Jaffna Yogeswary Pathkunarajah. During the meetings, they updated Minister Shanmugam on recent developments in Jaffna. Chief Minister Vigneswaran spoke candidly about the challenges facing his administration. He said that the circumstances which the Administration found itself in, as well as the restrictions being imposed on it, were making it very difficult for his Administration to carry out its duties. 

In Jaffna, Minister witnessed the inauguration of several projects to help the young people of Jaffna. These included: (i) the Singapore International Foundation (SIF)’s project to enhance competency in the English language by training teachers and librarians to assist students better; (ii) a youth resource centre at the Jaffna Public Library where students can learn through interactive activities; and (iii) a mobile library which was donated by Singapore donors (i.e., the Modern Montessori International and the Singapore Ceylon Tamils’ Association).  Singapore’s National Library Board (NLB) also donated more than 10,000 books to the Jaffna Public Library.  It is expected that over 3,000 students in 38 schools in Jaffna will benefit from these projects.

During his visit to Jaffna, Minister Shanmugam also met the media. In response to queries on the reconciliation process, Minister Shanmugam said there were a number of facets to the issue, and highlighted two of the facets. First, was the question of finding an acceptable closure in respect to the events of the civil war which ended in 2009; and second, the redevelopment process that would be needed to help the people of Jaffna.

On the first issue, Minister Shanmugam said to the media that it was best for a closure to be achieved which was just and equitable, and acceptable to all the different communities, including the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities. If no such closure was achieved, then a lasting reconciliation would be difficult. Singapore encourages Sri Lanka to work out a process which would seek to achieve such a closure. 

With regard to the second issue, Minister Shanmugam said that Singapore’s objective was to extend concrete assistance to the people of Jaffna. He recalled that during his previous visit to Jaffna in May 2012, what came through clearly was that the people wanted a better future for their children, and  they specifically asked for assistance in education and IT training. It is in this context that the various projects launched during Minister Shanmugam’s visit (viz. English language training, the mobile library and the youth resource centre) were identified and SIF was approached to spearhead the projects. Minister Shanmugam said that the programmes would have multiplier effects over the coming years, and if successful, could be built upon by Singapore and other countries.

Minister Shanmugam was also asked about the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution on Sri Lanka. He said that there were a number of different viewpoints with regard to that Resolution. For example, among the three major countries with close links to Sri Lanka, the US had strongly sponsored the Resolution, India had abstained, while China had voted against it. Singapore was not a member of the UNHRC and did not vote on the Resolution.

Minister Shanmugam reiterated that it was important for Sri Lanka to find a process to arrive at a just and equitable closure to the events of the civil war which was acceptable to all the different communities.

Minister Shanmugam also reiterated that Singapore’s focus was to help the people of Sri Lanka, within our means and in our areas of expertise. It was in this context that the various projects were launched in Jaffna to help the children of Jaffna make a better future for themselves. Singapore will explore how it can do more in this regard.

The Minister also highlighted the additional ways in which Singapore was assisting Sri Lanka. For instance, some 2,000 civil servants from all over Sri Lanka have been trained under the Singapore Cooperation Programme in a broad range of fields from urban planning through to water management. SIF was also engaged in a programme to enhance healthcare education in Colombo.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

5 APRIL 2014