New Zealand is pleased to participate in the Tokyo Conference on Sri Lanka. We wish to thank Japan for the preparations for the Conference, and more broadly, for its overall contribution to the peace process. We also thank the other co-chairs, in particular, Norway, and also Thailand for their work in helping to bring about peace in Sri Lanka.

New Zealand warmly applauds the steps taken to date by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in their efforts to secure a lasting peace for the benefit of all of the people of Sri Lanka. Whilst the international community can continue to play an important role, including via the provision of humanitarian and other development assistance, the most crucial responsibility must continue to be held by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Both will need to have ownership of the peace process and be prepared to make the difficult compromises and decisions that will be required. Within this context, we thank the delegation representing the Government of Sri Lanka for sharing with us all its vision for a future Sri Lanka, but convey our disappointment over the decision of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam not to participate in this Conference.

New Zealand attaches considerable importance to its overall relationship with Sri Lanka. We have a close and friendly relationship, with links in a variety of areas, including long standing Commonwealth ties, historic Colombo Plan links, sport, and through the Sri Lankan community resident in New Zealand.

The primary focus of New Zealand development assistance is the Pacific, followed by ASEAN, and then small, tightly focused programmes in China, South Asia, and parts of Africa and Latin America.

New Zealand recognises, however, the immense human and financial needs associated with reconstruction. We are willing to play our part in helping Sri Lanka address these needs.
New Zealand is delighted to formally submit a pledge of no less than NZ$ 1.5 million (this equates to around US$ 850,000) over the next 3 financial years (2003/04 to 2005/06) for reconstruction assistance in support of the peace process.

New Zealand will provide funding for a number of appropriate programmes implemented by UNDP and UNICEF particularly in the North and the East of Sri Lanka. We will endeavour to support programmes which benefit all ethnic communities, and which seek to work towards achieving poverty elimination.

This pledge is in addition to the recent provision of US$ 79,000 to UNDP a number of critical and urgent needs faced by the UN Support to Mine Action project in Sri Lanka. The above funding will make Sri Lanka one of the two primary recipients of NZAID support under the South Asia programme.

Sri Lanka will also be able to draw on potential support available under a number of contestable, non bilateral programmes implemented by NZAID. This includes the Good Governance Programme and the Asia Development Assistance Facility (ADAF). Under the Good Governance Programme, we have indicated a positive disposition to fund assistance by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission. New Zealand consultancy advice in a number of areas is being provided under ADAF, and several New Zealand Non Governmental Organisations are active in Sri Lanka with financial support from NZAID.

We would encourage Sri Lanka to make the maximum use of the opportunities available under these non bilateral programmes.

I am pleased to indicate that total New Zealand aid flowed to Sri Lanka from all sources, which are estimated at US$ 400,000 for 2002/03, should increase to US$ 725,000 for 2203/04. Thank you.