Matthew was pleased to meet the Hon. Mr. Gitanjana Gunawardena, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of External Affairs, to discuss the emerging political and economic issues the country now faces as the internal conflict has ended. 

Issues such as the European Union’s GSP+ scheme, tourism, economic development, mine clearance, land reclamation and the education of former child combatants were all discussed. 

Matthew said, “Just over a year after the end of the long war between the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tiger rebels, the country has played host to its first surfing championship, began the process to reclaim 400 acres of land on the seafront in Colombo, entered hundreds of children into GCE (A/L) examinations, cleared more than 250,000 mines from the land and secured significant investment into the production of textiles and clothes. 

Peace has brought significant benefits for the people of Sri Lankan after 26 years of armed conflict and struggle. It is all too easy to bring up the atrocities which occurred but the focus must now be on the reconciliation and rebuilding of this magnificent land. With the burgeoning economies of China and India close to the island, democracies in the West need to recognise its attractions and secure a new, emerging economy. The island has more to offer than just tea.”

Pictured from left to right: Mr P.M. Amza, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK, Chandera Moonerwalla, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Venerable Galayaye Piyadassi, MBE, Matthew, and the Hon. Mr. Gitanjana Gunawardena.

27th July 2010