Publication date: 24/09/2002

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has welcomed the progress made in the Sri Lanka peace process. He reiterated his support for the ongoing peace talks when he met with Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Economic Reforms and Science and Technology of Sri Lanka, in London today. The first round of the peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) concluded in Thailand last
week. The Secretary-General expressed the hope that the positive attitude maintained by both sides at the talks would result in a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

"The international community should do all it can to encourage the peace process in Sri Lanka and accelerate development assistance aimed at the resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons. The Commonwealth stands ready to assist the Government and the people of Sri Lanka in contributing to the peace-building effort," said Mr McKinnon.