In the frame of Switzerland’s humanitarian resettlement program which started in 2009 around 25,000 people have been supported in rebuilding their houses and 35 kindergartens and 8 schools have been constructed.
Switzerland is also providing water supply and waste water systems to 45 municipalities across the Northern Province, and restoring 9 rain retention basins in arid areas.
Overall, the Switzerland has invested so far approximately CHF 30 million for the reconstruction program.
In Jaffna, Federal Councilor Burkhalter also met the Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran and the Governor of the Northern Province, H.M.G.S. Palihakkara.
The talks focused on the economic and humanitarian situation in the Province, as well as on the capacity building project implemented by the Swiss government in all provincial councils throughout Sri Lanka to enhance skills of Provincial officers in administration management and to train provincial councilors in statue drafting. Minister Burkhalter praised the renewed collaboration between the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Northern Provincial Council.
In Colombo, he held discussions with representatives of the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil National Alliance. The talks focused on the enhancement of economic cooperation between the two countries and the national reconciliation process. Mr. Burkhalter also visited Jaffna, where he met the authorities of the Northern Province and examined reconstruction projects funded by the Swiss cooperation.
On Tuesday 17, Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera. The Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs expressed his appreciation to President Sirisena for the peaceful elections held in Sri Lanka early this year and the steps undertaken by the new government to reform the Constitution and address the national question.
Federal Councilor Burkhalter reiterated his willingness to further promote cooperation in all fields between Switzerland and Sri Lanka, remarking that his visit will be a landmark in the historical friendship between the two countries, which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations next year.
With Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Federal Councilor Burkhalter discussed ways to enhance trade and economic relations. Presently, the volume of trade between Switzerland and Sri Lanka amounts to around CHF 300 Million per year. Numerous Swiss companies have a longstanding presence in Sri Lanka, and during his stay in Colombo the Swiss Minister also met with representatives of these companies. Federal Councilor Burkhalter discussed in length with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe the other areas of cooperation where Switzerland is very active, such as vocational training or assistance to migrant workers. The Swiss government is in fact supporting the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Employment through the International Labour Organization and mandating non-governmental organizations to support labour migrants and their families to enhance the benefits of labour migration and reduce social costs under the Global Programme for Migration and Development.
During his meeting with Foreign Minister Samaraweera, Federal Councilor Burkhalter welcomed Sri Lanka’s renewed efforts to collaborate constructively with the United Nations and the international community and to discuss human rights and accountability. Minister Burkhalter offered Switzerland’s support to sustain the efforts of the Sri Lankan government in consolidating the reconciliation process by making available Swiss experience based on a longstanding tradition of multi-ethnic and multi-lingual coexistence.
After talks with the Sri Lankan government, the Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs also met representatives of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), namely the alliance’s leader Rajavarothiam Sampathan and MP Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran. With the TNA, Federal Councilor 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. 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, Burkhalter stressed.
