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Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter in Akkarai, Jaffna (Photos: EDA) |
Switzerland’s foreign minister, Didier Burkhalter visited a Swiss-funded reconstruction project in the village of Akkarai on the Jaffna peninsula on Wednesday.
Touring the village after holding talks with NPC Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and Governor Mr Palihakkara, the foreign minister, who was Swiss president until last year, said he was delighted at the role Switzerland played in helping the people.
"The houses of Akkarai show that a shared commitment can give people renewed hope and prospects. I am delighted that Switzerland can play its part in helping the people of Akkarai build their own future after all they have been through", said Mr Burkhalter.
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The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is funding the reconstruction of the homes in Akkarai, damaged by both the Boxing Day Tsunami and the armed conflict, as part of a program which has already seen the construction of 5,100 homes for 25,000 people, as well as 8 schools and 35 kindergartens.
Mr Wigneswaran told media after his meeting, the discussion with Mr Burkhalter centred around the changes in the Northern province since the new government took power in Colombo.
“I explained to Mr Burkhalter of the development in the Northern Province after the change in the government. I also explained the expectations of the Tamil people,” the chief minister said, adding the foreign minister also discussed aid needs in the province.
The Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan and MP MA Sumanthiran met Mr Burkhalter on Tuesday, after his discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
Mr Burkhalter spoke in length about the reconciliation process, stressing the strong need to listen to each other’s grievances in an “inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders” to build trust and re-approach the Sinhalese, the Tamil and the Muslim communities, Swiss media reported.
Reforms to address the national question should be based on a clear political commitment to equal treatment of all ethnic groups, and the reconciliation process cannot move forward without a credible investigation into allegations of war crimes, Mr Burkhalter told the TNA.
Broad dialogue with all parties key to rebuilding confidence in Sri Lanka says Swiss FM (17 March 2015)