Govt. assures commitment to consultation process

The Government yesterday assured that it remains committed to the consultation process which will be used to make a final decision on the shape and form of proposed reconciliation mechanisms.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, speaking in Jaffna yesterday, said that a Consultation Task Force will review and analyse the people’s input from across the island and will present the Government with a report that will also be made public.

“I am aware that there are many here today who still have fears and doubts. But I can assure you that the National Unity Government of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremasinghe is committed to ensuring the successful completion on this process,” he said.

Samaraweera said that it is important to deal with the past in order to move forward and build a united, peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka.

“We cannot forget the tears of mothers still grieving for their missing sons thirty years later in Point Dondra and nor can we forget the mother in Point Pedro who is grieving for her LTTE combatant son killed in a senseless and brutal war,” he said.

The Foreign Minister was speaking in Jaffna at the launch of a website on consultations for the reconciliation mechanisms.

On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister urged victims on both sides of the divide, religious leaders whose guidance is always appreciated, members of the public, the security forces, civil society, the public service, business-people and professionals to participate and contribute with their ideas and experiences to the design of the said mechanisms to build a Sri Lanka that is truly reconciled and at peace and where equality, justice and freedom are a reality for all citizens. (Colombo Gazette)