South Africa has offered assistance and advice to Sri Lanka in its effort to reach a political solution following the end of 30 years of war.
The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry said that the assistance was offered by a South African government delegation which met with External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris in Colombo on Friday.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Ebrahim Ebrahim and former Minister of Constitutional Affairs Roelf Meyer met and discussed with Peiris about the government’s efforts to achieve peace.
The discussion followed up on a range of issues which Peiris had discussed with South African leaders including President Jacob Zuma and Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane during an official visit to South Africa in March this year, the External Affairs Ministry said.
Peiris gave the visiting South African delegation a comprehensive update on developments in Sri Lanka, in particular the progress which had been made with regard to resettlement of internally displaced persons, the re-integration into society of ex-combatants and the successful completion of de-mining operations.
He also provided detailed information with regard to structured implementation of recommendations contained in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, a commission appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following the end of the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels three years ago.
