The bilateral ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are extremely great. The bilateral trade does not match the bilateral political relations, despite Free Trade Agreement. The volume of bilateral trade stands at $250 million. Sri Lanka produces the best tea in the world. All the civilians who were killed or injured in the decisive battle were killed or injured by Tamil Tigers themselves. The Army did not use heavy weapons in the final phase to ensure security of the civilians. These views were expressed by Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, Sri Lankan High Commissioner.
Weerakkody said that Pak-Sri Lanka ties were established in 1949. The relations between the two countries have flourished ever since, he added. He further said that we are the dwellers of the same region. We are thankful to Pakistani friends who, with their training and cooperation, helped us successfully face the challenges to the integrity and security of our country.
Strong Defense Sector
Weerakkody further said that the relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are very strong in the defense sector. However, the economic and trade relations are very weak. He told that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had signed Free Trade Agreement in 2005. After this agreement, the volume of trade has, showing a slight increase, risen to $250 million from $180 million.
Weerakkody said that Sri Lanka produces the best tea in the world and this tea is not very costly either. The tea that the Pakistani friends use is of a very low quality. He further said that the prospects of promoting cultural relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are quite wide. The remnants of Taxila and Gandhara civilization in Pakistan are regarded as sacred places of worship by the Sri Lankans. However, because of a lack of awareness the religious tourists of our country turn to India rather than Pakistan.
He further said that the game of cricket is also an important reason of the friendly relations between the two countries. Regarding the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, he said that the Pakistani officials keep giving them informal information on the investigations being carried out into the incident. He said that the concerned Sri Lankan authorities have not been included in the investigations into the attack on the Sri Lankan team.
Literacy Issue
As far as 96 percent literacy rate achieved by Sri Lanka is concerned, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody said that ever since its independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has pursued the policy of providing free education in order to spread education. During President Bandranaike era in 1956, Education Minister Dr. C C W Khanana took revolutionary steps. Education was made compulsory and free up to the university level. The students were provided free books and uniforms up to the secondary level. All the following governments pursued the same policy.
Weerakkody said that Sri Lankan population is around 20 million. Currently, there are some 175,000 teachers at Sri Lankan schools and colleges, leaving aside the teachers at private institutions.
Launching Separatist Movement
Commenting on the separatist movement launched by Tamil Tigers, Weerakkody said that Tamils are 2 million out of a total population of 20 million; while, in India and other parts of the world, the Tamils number 20 million. This population supports the separatist movement launched by the Sri Lankan Tamils. India also played mediatory role with a view to end this dispute. As a result, the Sri Lankan Tamil language was declared to be the official language of Sri Lanka. The Tigers are running a movement for the establishment of a separate country. It is because of their stubbornness that Indian mediation has been ineffectual.
Sri Lanka is a small island and partitioning this small island was not acceptable at any cost. In order to crush, this separatist movement, we had no option but to fight a decisive battle. Weerakkody added that the Tamil Tigers have started to use civilians as human shield to in the last phase of the war, and the Western world, because of its unawareness, has made the Sri Lankan Government butt of criticism.
Tamil Terrorism vs Terrorism in Pakistan
In response to a question about the comparison between the Tamil terrorism and the terrorism in Pakistan, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner said that although the terrorist attacks are common between the two, both have different objectives. Tamil Tigers were separatists while here attempts are being made to give religious explanations of terrorism in order to gain power. It is something that is a controversial issue among the ulema themselves.
In the end, it can be said that Sri Lanka is paying attention to rehabilitation of the affected Tamil population and reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure. It is the major problem facing Sri Lanka at this hour.
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