Wednesday, 16 July 2014 00:01
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday telephoned his counterpart in Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas regarding the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
“The President yesterday called #Palestinian President Abbas to inquire about the situation in #Gaza & offered his condolences to lives lost,” his Office said, tweeting from the President’s official Twitter account, @PresRajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa has been a firm supporter of the Palestinian cause throughout his political career and was recently awarded the Palestinian State’s highest honour, the Star of Palestine.
The Sri Lankan Government also issued a statement saying it was deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Gaza resulting in tragic loss of civilian lives and extensive damage to property.
“Cross border provocations on locations in parts of Israel also need to cease,” the Ministry of External Affairs said on its official website. “Sri Lanka calls upon the parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint in a bid to halt the violence and ensure a climate conducive to the recommencement of negotiations for a lasting solution to the conflict,” the statement said.
The Government also called upon the parties to engage at the earliest in direct dialogue which is the only viable initiative for sustained peace and security in the region.
“Sri Lanka is, therefore confident that since both parties wish to secure the right to life for their peoples, concerted action would be taken towards this end,” the statement said. (DB)
