The United States and the United Kingdom have agreed to convene an international donor conference to drum up support for the rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's strife-torn North-East and overall economic development.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will invite worldwide support through an international donor conference for the rehabilitation and development of Sri Lanka, Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda told the Daily News in a telephone interview from London last night.
Armitage has made this assurance at a recent meeting with Minister Moragoda in the United States.
Sir David Manning, Advisor on Foreign Affairs to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Head of the Overseas Defence Secretariat has also agreed to the US proposal, Minister Moragoda said. However, the date and venue of the parley have not been decided yet.
The proposal for the international donor conference was mooted by Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen at the Thailand peace talks and the Diplomatic Corps were apprised of the need to pursue this strategy, the Minister said.
Minister Moragoda was also scheduled to meet Secretary of State for Department for International Development Clare Short last night for a briefing on the international donor conference.
Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte and Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Faiz Mohideen were also present at these meetings in the UK. The duo accompanied Finance Minister K.N. Choksy for the Commonwealth Finance Minister's Conference starting in London today.