June 24, 2005
No. 115
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen
Carroll today welcomed the signing of the Post-Tsunami Operations Management
Structure. This joint agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will serve to facilitate the identification,
approval and monitoring of reconstruction projects in selected districts of Sri Lanka’s
north and east.
“We recognize the considerable challenges that the Government of Sri Lanka has faced
in going ahead with this agreement and commend President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga for taking this bold step,” said Minister Pettigrew. “We also commend
both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE for agreeing to include equitable
Muslim representation in the management of the structure. Canada hopes that, with the
goodwill of all parties, an effective structure will foster an environment conducive to
reinvigorating the stalled peace process.”
“This agreement will be an important step toward ensuring effective, equitable and
transparent delivery of post-tsunami aid and will also expedite the recovery process in
the north and east of Sri Lanka,” said Minister Carroll.
Minister Pettigrew also reiterated Canada’s concerns, however, about the political and
human rights situation in Sri Lanka. “While this accord is a positive step, Canada
remains gravely concerned about the escalating violence in Sri Lanka and urges both
sides to rigorously respect the terms of the cease-fire agreement,” added the Minister.
“We call on the LTTE to immediately end its recruitment of child soldiers and to
implement all the provisions of the 2003 action plan on this matter.”
When Prime Minister Paul Martin visited Sri Lanka in January, he pledged that Canada
would help Sri Lanka rebuild after the disaster. The Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) has announced a four-year strategy to support Sri Lanka’s
post-tsunami reconstruction efforts. As part of the strategy, Canada will expand
programming in three pre-tsunami sectors of focus (governance, gender and economic
well-being) and in two new sectors (environmental rehabilitation and management, and
fisheries). The Government of Canada has allocated $425 million toward relief,
rehabilitation and reconstruction in tsunami-affected countries.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Andrew Graham
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister for International Cooperation
(819) 953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency
(819) 953-6534
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
