President Rajapaksa declares open the 58th CPA Conference in Colombo

President Rajapaksa declares open the 58th CPA Conference in Colombo

By Janaka Alahapperuma from London

President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially inaugurated the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Performance Arts Theatre this morning on 11 September.

Upon arrival at the main entrance, President Rajapaksa was cordially welcomed by the current Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Chamal Rajapaksa. The President accompanied with the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

 Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Executive Committee Sir Alan Haselhurst, Secretary General of the CPA Dr William A Shija and the Opposition Leader of the Sri Lanka parliament Ranil Wickramasinghe also joined to welcome the President.

 Over 1,000 delegates including 800 speakers and parliamentarians from 54 Commonwealth countries are participating in the Conference.

•         Impressions of Sri Lanka in foreign countries are based on un-verified facts, deliberately manipulated disinformation and fictions carried out by individuals who once supported terrorism

•         Same elements continue to sow the seeds of division and separatism through various media, and also influence politicians in their new countries of domicile, to act against Sri Lanka, based on such disinformation.

•         Sri Lanka is one of the earliest members of the CPA. Our parliamentary democracy has been continued through the past 81 years since Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to have universal franchise, from as far back as 1931

•         Sri Lanka has produced the world’s first woman Prime Minister.  This fact has enabled to enhance women’s participation in the democratic process in the country.

President Rajapaksa, the Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association presided over the inaugural session said that it has been possible to conduct the summit in Sri Lanka due to the peaceful environment prevailing in the country.

He added that the conference is extremely important to show the international community the manner democracy has been established in the country after defeating three decades long terrorism. It has been proven through the recent provincial council election that the democratic rights of the people in the country have been preserved.  The President further said that the Northern Provincial Council election will be held in next year.

Addressing the CPA Conference, the President stated more than 300,000 persons affected by terrorism have already been resettled in their villages.  The government is in the process of taking maximum measures for the welfare of the masses.  Sri Lanka has achieved an economic growth of 8 percent last year.  The President added that the government has commenced implementing the recommendations of the Presidential commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC), appointed to look into the incidents that had taken place during the terrorist era.

He further said the impressions of Sri Lanka in foreign countries are based on un-verified facts, deliberately manipulated disinformation and fictions carried out by individuals who once supported terrorism. They influence politicians in their new countries of domicile, to act against Sri Lanka.

“These same elements continue to sow the seeds of division and separatism through various media, and also influence politicians in their new countries of domicile, to act against Sri Lanka, based on such disinformation. These are people who claim to speak for Sri Lanka or a section of our people, while slandering the country from their shelters abroad”, the President charged.

“They do not bother to contribute to the reconciliation and development taking place here. But worse, they do not even contribute to the progress of the people whose cause they claim to champion, from their activities abroad. You can now see the truth and return to your countries with a deeper and richer understanding of Sri Lanka.”

He further said that democracy or representative democracy is today competing for headlines with various emerging national or regional springs. We must be cautious of all these strategies that experience shows have not helped real democracy to take root and thrive.

As one of the earliest members of the CPA, Sri Lanka is glad to host this important international parliamentary conference and that our parliamentary democracy has been continued through the past 81 years since Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to have universal franchise, from as far back as 1931, President Rajapaksa said on the opening day of the conference at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Performance Arts Theatre.

Speaker and current CPA Chairman Chamal Rajapaksa said; “This will be the biggest event to be held in Sri Lanka since the end of terrorism and an opportunity for the country to showcase firsthand the progress made, to global policy makers”. This year’s conference under the theme ‘Ensuring a Relevant Commonwealth for the Future’ would discuss the common problems of the zonal member countries and would find solutions collaboratively, the Speaker said.

Among the issues that will be discussed are rule of law and human rights, role of parliaments, conflict resolution and peace- building, gender-responsive governance, terrorism, and youth unemployment.

The Philatelic Bureau of Sri Lanka has issued a commemorative postage stamp and First Day cover to mark the 3rd CPA Conference in Colombo. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga handed over the First Day Covers to the President, CPA and Commonwealth delegates at the opening ceremony. Ministers, parliamentarians, Secretary General of the Parliament Dhammika Dassanayaka, government officials, large number of distinguished guests and local and foreign journalists were present at the occasion.

The 32nd small branches conference and its executive committee meetings were held at Galadari Hotel yesterday. Today is the fifth day of the Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentarians and presiding officers of state or provinces.

A cultural show featuring Sri Lanka’s traditional dances and songs native to various parts of Sri Lanka was held at the Nelum Pokuna Arts Theatre yesterday (Monday 10) for the delegates.  Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said artistes from various parts of the island performed traditional dances and songs. It was followed by a dinner hosted by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa for over 1200 invitees, delegates, 225 members of the Sri Lankan Parliament and dignitaries representing the country in various spheres.

This is the third time Sri Lanka hosts the CPA conference in Colombo. Previously Sri Lanka has hosted the CPA Conference in 1974 and 1995.

The Conference sessions will be held until 15th September.

Sri Lanka is scheduled to host next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2013.

Pix by: Sudath Silva