Mangala to brief US on progress towards sustainable peace

Foreign Minister?Mangala Samaraweera is to visit the US next week where he will brief US officials on the progress made in the reconciliation process.

Samaraweera will attend a discussion at the US Institute of Peace on February 25, co-sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, on how the initiatives to advance reconciliation, post-conflict development and stronger democratic institutions are progressing.

Samaraweera told the U.N. Human Rights Council in September 2015 that the Government fully recognizes that ?the process of reconciliation involves addressing the broad areas of truth-seeking, justice, reparations and non-recurrence.?

The Foreign Minister will offer an update on the progress towards sustainable peace in Sri Lanka, including plans for economic development. The remarks will be followed by a moderated discussion and a question-and-answer period with the audience.

Nisha Biswal,?the US?Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs will also attend the event. (Colombo Gazette)