Dear P M Inpanayagam,
The Secretary of State for External Affairs, The Honourable Barbara McDougall, has
asked me to reply to your letter of January 21, 1992 regarding your concerns about the
situation in Sri Lanka.
As I am sure you are aware, Canada reduced the amount of aid given to Sri Lanka at the aid consortium. It may, however, interest you to learn that
virtually all Canadian aid to Sri Lanka is channelled through local and Canadian
non-governmental organizations. This makes it possible to finance projects that lend
themselves to the active participation of local communities. It also helps to address the
social and economic needs of the people and to improve their quality of life.
Canada worked closely with like-minded countries at the 48th Session of the United Nations Commission on
Human Rights in Geneva in late February to introduce a Chairman's Statement on Sri Lanka.
This statement, while acknowledging initial steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka,
calls for a substantially increased effort in the future to address the need for a
cessation of fighting in the north east and the achievement of a durable peace and
restoration of respect for the law and for the civil and human rights of all Sri Lankans.
It specifically calls on Sri Lanka to take action to implement the recommendations of the
United Nations Working Group on Disappearances, and to re-admit the Working Group to Sri
Lanka in 1992 to monitor the process of implementation of the recommendations.
You may also be interested in the statement made by the Head of the Delegation of
Canada, Ms Anne Park. I am enclosing a copy for your information.
Thank you for writing to express your concerns about the situation in Sri Lanka.
Yours sincerely,
J J Scott
Director
Asia Pacific South
Relations Division
Enclosure
