Sri Lanka in World’s Top 18 Biodiversity Hotspots

07th November 2010, www.sundayobserver.lk, By Daya Gamage

"Sri Lankan rainforests are home tonearly all of the country’s endemic plants and about 75 percent of theendemic animals. The rich array of fauna and flora places Sri Lankaamong the world’s top 18 biodiversity hotspots.

UNESCO has designated four natural forests in Sri Lanka as UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Sinharaja, Knuckles, the Peak Wildernes andHorton Plains. The Slender Loris, long thought to be extinct, was recently rediscovered after 60 years in the Central Highlands. We have set a target of increasing the country’s forest cover to 33% of the land area by year 2016.”

Dr. Palith Kohona, Sri Lanka ambassador to the United Nations made theabove remarks in the course of his presentation to the US General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Session at New York.

The Ambassador further stated: “We will support REDD-Plus activities, which are country driven and voluntary. These activities must receive adequate predictable and sustainable financing and technological support. Indigenous people and local communities are also involved in the implementation of REDD plus process.”

On the climate change agenda Dr. Kohona made the following presentation to the UN Second Committee of Sustainable Development that dealt with the climate change issue.

Sri Lanka President Tells UN, We are on Course for Peace & Prosperity. Sri Lanka to be One of Top 30 Countries for Doing Business by 2014

23rd September 2010, www.bloomberg.com

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he has set the nation on a course toward political reconciliation with the Tamil minority and economic recovery following a three-decade civil war.

“The entire focus of our nation is now on building a lasting peace, healing wounds, ensuring prosperity and guaranteeing the rights of the whole nation to live in harmony,” Rajapaksa said in a speech today to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Sri Lankan soldiers defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May last year, ending their struggle for a separate homeland. The war killed more than 100,000 and has left about 76,000 Tamils displaced.

“No nation on earth can wish Sri Lanka’s Tamil community more good fortune than Sri Lanka itself,” Rajapaksa said. “Sri Lanka has already returned over 90 percent of the internally displaced persons to their original villages that were previously riddled with landmines and provided the essential infrastructure necessary to resume normal life.”

The economy expanded 8.5 percent in the three months ended June 30 from a year earlier, the fastest pace since 2002, the statistics department said on Sept. 16.

Rajapaksa said the aim of his second term in office, which begins in two months, was to make Sri Lanka “one of the top 30 countries for doing business by 2014” and to double per capita income by 2016.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Varner at the United Nations at wvarner@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva in Washington at msilva34@bloomberg.net

Sri Lanka to Free Civilians in IDP Camps on 1st December and Enable Them to Move Freely

21st November 2009, www.news.lk

On the directives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government has made all the necessary arrangements to complete the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in the northern transitional centers by 31st January 2010, Senior Advisor the President, Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa said today (21).

At a discussion held this morning in Vavuniya, Parliamentarian Rajapaksa said the restrictions imposed on the movement of civilians in the IDP centers will be lifted with effect from 1st December 2009 to enable them to freely move to any part of the region, Rajapaksa added.

Meanwhile, the Government announced yesterday that it has dispatched equipment and machinery worth over Rs. 2200 million for the welfare and livelihood activities of the resettled civilians, since the resettlement process commenced in this year.

The government in its' speedy resettlement programme of IDPs have already resettled over 100,000 IDPs who took shelter in welfare camps in the Northern and Eastern regions.

The accelerated resettlement plan of the government has been hailed worldwide with commendation. The UN Under Secretary on Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes who was here on a brief visit was pleased with the facilities afforded to the people in welfare camps.He pledged the fullest support of the UN agencies to expedite the resettlement at the earliest.

USAID Asia Pacific Director Says Sri Lanka a Peaceful Nation

15th November 2009, www.news.lk

The United Nations has said that Sri Lanka’s war has ended and the country is peaceful. It claims that the government’s forward march is successful. Aje Chhibber, USAID Asia Pacific Director said the support of the international community to rebuild Sri Lanka is very essential. Technical as well as financial assistance is of special importance.

The Sri Lanka Government had assured the United Nations that resettlement will be completed by January. According to the schedule, the Government is resettling the displaced in their places of origin. He said they were satisfied about it. He received an opportunity to visit the North during his Sri Lanka tour. He was able to witness the health facilities extended to the liberated civilians and they were living satisfactorily. He rejected accusations by some groups about the situation in welfare camps.

The Sri Lankan Government has given priority to de-mining. The agriculture launched in welfare villages is a good idea. The UN representative was optimistic that there will be a new Sri Lanka within several years if these programmes were continuously launched.