South Africa offers support for Sri Lanka's peace initiatives
2012-08-10

COLOMBO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- 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 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.

A matter which received emphasis in the discussion was the importance of a home-grown solution if implementation is to be achieved, the External Affairs Ministry said.

The ministry said that the South African delegation told Peiris that they would be happy to render all assistance to Sri Lanka, drawing upon their own experience and insights.