External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L. Peiris on yesterday said that the government believes economic development is a crucial component of wider reconciliation.
Prof: Peiris made these comments during his four day official visit to the United States.
“The economy of the Northern Province grew by 22 percent in 2011, while for the country as a whole it was 8.3 percent. This is the result of sustained and substantial investment and development in infrastructure in that part of the country”, minister said.
The minister met the Republican Senator John McCain, former presidential candidate and who is one of the U.S senate’s leading experts on terrorism and national security.
He also made a speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars conference and highlighted Sri Lanka’s accomplishments since defeating terrorism.
“Ninety-eight percent of the people who were displaced by the conflict have been and they have not just been returned to their homes. We have seen to it that resettlement has occurred in an environment of confidence and satisfaction.” minister said in his speech.
The minister is due to meet U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit.
