High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

Sri Lanka's pre-occupation with social equity is certainly appropriate at the international level at this time. It is important to ensure that the major trends of economic policy in the developed world should not have a harmful effect on the well-being of developing countries, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Inaugurating the 50th annual session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel Colombo this morning, President Rajapaksa said the use of substantial subsidies by Treasuries and Reserve Banks to support agricultural production in the developed world, and other forms of protectionism, cause serious distortion of the interplay of market forces. These measures reduce to great extent, the ability of farmers in our countries to access international markets for their export products on an equitable basis.

Here is the full text of the speech by the President:

It is with the greatest pleasure that I inaugurate these proceedings of the Asian - African Legal Consultative Organization in Colombo this morning. The occasion is all the more significant because you have chosen Sri Lanka as the venue of your discussions which mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of this body which has made a rich contribution to the development of the laws and legal systems of two continents in our time.

Your choice of Sri Lanka is especially appropriate, as my country turns a new and exciting page in her modern history. As you gather here today, we as a nation leave behind us the pain and anguish of a long-drawn-out conflict thrust upon us by one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations the world has known. With the sacrifice, prayers and blessings of all our citizens, irrespective of language, religion or cultural background, we have overcome the menace of terror and put our country on the fast track of economic and social development for the benefit of us all.

This is a change which touches every aspect of our national life. It requires re-vamping of our institutions in every sector. Not least of these is the law, its priorities, the values on which it is based, the procedures which are considered suitable for the pursuit of its aims, and the agencies through which it is applied for the well-being of the community.

There are several factors uppermost in our minds as we address the challenges that accompany the dawn of a stable and honourable peace.

The first among these is the need to protect our nation against a wide range of activities which groups closely linked to the merchants of terror, continue to engage in to the detriment of our country. Since the problem of terrorism is by no means restricted to Sri Lanka, but is of immediate relevance to many of the countries represented in this forum, you will no doubt rejoice that terrorist violence is, for us, a thing of the past, and we will never allow to raise its ugly head to be raised again within our shores. But it is to be remembered that their initiatives have now been transferred to the field of international action, and no stone is left unturned to apply every possible form of pressure to obstruct our country’s efforts to heal the wounds of the past and to bring together the entire nation through a process of reconciliation in keeping with the culture and aspirations of our people. This is why continuing vigilance at the international level, and resort to both domestic law and international law as a source of protection, are vitally important.

It is equally necessary to ensure that the opportunities which are now available to us, after many decades, are exploited to the full for the benefit of all our people without distinction. You will observe for yourselves during your stay in our country how rich and varied these opportunities are in such sectors as tourism, direct and portfolio investment and increase of trade. Our government has put in place an effective strategy to harness our nation’s resources at the optimal level, and this has called for fresh thinking with regard to legal concepts and procedures, in harmony with the far-reaching changes that are taking place around us in every sphere of society.

Release of the country’s inherent energy and the use of its unique human potential with strong political stability have resulted in the growth of our economy by more than 8%. This places us in the category of one of the most rapidly developing economies of Asia.

Remarkable as this achievement is, our government is determined to do more. I strongly believe that economic development must not be confined to mere statistics, far removed from the lives of the people. It must have a direct impact on their everyday experience, enriching and uplifting their lives. Throughout my political career, I have been convinced that the fruits of economic progress must trickle down to the grassroots level, by penetrating the rural hinterland.

With this objective in view, we have taken vigorous steps to transform not only our legal system and our legal culture but, even more importantly, the nation’s mindset to put timely emphasis on social equity and access to opportunity, particularly for those sections of the community which have been deprived of advantages in the past. I am legitimately proud of our achievements in the field of computer literacy which is no longer an exclusive privilege of urban schools but has significantly enhanced the prospects of gainful employment available to the rural youth of our country. During the last few years skills development, especially in the form of practical programmes of vocational training, have greatly strengthened social mobility, in terms of livelihoods and incomes.

This pre-occupation with social equity is certainly appropriate at the international level at this time. It is important to ensure that the major trends of economic policy in the developed world should not have a harmful effect on the well-being of developing countries. Dumping of commercial and industrial goods manufactured in developed countries imperils the economies of many of our countries, as indicated by the focus on anti-dumping and counter-vailing legislation in the vast majority of Asian and African nations represented here.

The use of substantial subsidies by Treasuries and Reserve Banks to support agricultural production in the developed world, and other forms of protect-tionism, cause serious distortion of the interplay of market forces. These measures reduce to a great extent, the ability of farmers in our countries to access international markets for their export products on an equitable basis. The dis-propor-tionate pollution of the environment by industrialized countries, and the resulting impact on global warming and climate change, cannot be remedied with any semblance of justice by imposing harsh restraints on developing countries, which are not the cause of this problem. The over-exposure of banks and the irresponsible use of financial instruments, especially with regard to the mortgage market, in the developed world, brought about financial volatility and instability of alarming proportions, which led to the weakening of the foundations of many of our economies.

Against this backdrop, we strongly support timely reform of the international financial architecture, with particular reference to re-vamping of the Bretton Woods institutions. There must also be reform of the United Nations system on the basis of consensus among the international community in respect of all the key issues.

It is vital to ensure greater effectiveness with regard to regulatory mechanisms at the international level, in respect of issues which are of immediate concern to many of our countries in Asia and Africa. Money laundering, gun running, drug trafficking, people smuggling and economic crime in general – many of which have an intimate connection with international terrorism – continue to pose serious challenges, which call for a prompt and vigorous response by the international community. The consequences of piracy engage the attention of many of our countries, and action is urgently required to put in place, effective deterrents and, in particular, to address issues connected with retention of ransom money in the hands of perpetrators of crime – an area in which a wide gap in current international law and practice, is plainly visible.

Through the financial turbulence which threatened the world recently, my country steadfastly maintained an educational system which not only provides free education from kindergarten to university, but puts at the disposal of the student, all the facilities he needs during his educational career. We offer our people a healthcare system, which is acknowledged to be one of the best in Asia. Our record with regard to infant mortality and maternal health is without parallel in our geographical region. These attainments in respect of the quality of life have won recognition from the United Nations system.

In accelerating progress towards these goals, our government, faithful to the value system which finds expression in the Mahinda Chinthana setting out our cherished beliefs, has identified two areas as being of crucial importance.

One of these is the development of infrastructure. In the recent past, and especially after the advent of peace, I have accorded the highest priority to this area. No other government in our country’s history has made so substantial an investment in the highways and railroads sector. We have energetically implemented a cluster of projects in respect of irrigation, and power and energy. The most striking developments have been with regard to ports, harbours and airports. I am deeply conscious of the importance of connectivity, linking Sri Lanka with the world at large and making a reality of our vision of our country as a shipping and knowledge hub.

Parallel with this, we are making every effort to breathe new vigour and vitality into both the private and public sectors. We are actively engaged in facilitating enhanced investment and expansion of volumes of international trade by modernizing our systems and procedures applicable to customs, banking, the Board of Investment, the Export Development Board and the whole range of fiscal and monetary policy. The entire spectrum of commercial and industrial law is being reformed. This is supplemented by new thinking aimed at making the public sector more sensitive to the changes taking place around us and, therefore, a more effective instrument of service to our people.

Let me conclude with a thought that goes to the very root of my thinking on current issues. The law is the strongest instrument of social organization known to humankind, since the beginning of recorded history. The central purpose of the law is to achieve a balance between competing interests, to bring about harmony in the social order and, by doing so, to enable the full flowering of the human personality.

It is of the utmost importance to remind ourselves that these objectives need to be accomplished in accordance with the cultural traditions and value systems which are part of the experience of each society. The continents of Asia and Africa, which are the focus of the discussions you begin today, have nurtured over the centuries, some of the world’s greatest civilizations. It is crucial to insist, I believe, that the manner in which the laws and legal systems of our countries are restructured to serve the interests of our populations, and to ensure their security and wellbeing, must reflect the character of a home-grown and home-spun product. By all means, let us look at positive experiences elsewhere but, at the end of the day, a solution will be sustainable only if it caters for the aspirations of our own people.

I venture to suggest to the distinguished legal luminaries, whom I have the privilege to address today, that this is true of all the countries and cultures represented here.

This is my earnest message to you as I inaugurate, with eager anticipation, what I have no doubt, will be an immensely rewarding and fruitful discussion. I wish your deliberations every success.

May the Noble Triple Gem Bless you all.