South Africa: Govt, Sri Lanka Discuss Sustainable Political Settlement

Sri Lanka will implement its LLRC and an impartial, inclusive and transparent mechanism to deal decisively with questions of accountability and justice.

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

(PRETORIA, South Africa BUA News) - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, hosted her counterpart from Sri Lanka, Gamini Lakshman Peiris, on Monday, to discuss bilateral relations and the peace process in that country.

Peres briefed Nkoana-Mashabane on plans to implement the recommendations of the Sri Lankan Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) relating to human rights, the return and resettlement of displaced communities, restitution and compensatory relief for the affected people and post-conflict reconstruction and nation-building.

Both sides agreed on the need to grasp the opportunity to finally settle the conflict in Sri Lanka.

This includes the speedy implementation of the LLRC Report, as well as the setting up of an impartial, inclusive and transparent mechanism to deal decisively with questions of accountability and justice.

Department spokesperson Clayson Monyela said Pretoria believed in the need for a peaceful and sustainable political solution, which will be best achieved through broad consultation and inclusive dialogue amongst all the peoples of Sri Lanka.

"South Africa continues to encourage the government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the LLRC Report in the same spirit as South Africa implemented the TRC processes," said Monyela, adding that SA stands ready to assist and share with the government and people of Sri Lanka its experiences in terms of nation-building through the TRC.

In addition to paying a courtesy call on President Jacob Zuma, Peiris also visited the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.

Special thanks to BuaNews (Tshwane)

http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/12/12030810451001