US CONGRESSMAN TELLS PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA THAT SRI LANKA IS A KEY ALLY OF USA IN THE WAR AGAINST TERROR AND HE WANTS TO SEE THAT IT IS EXTENDED TO THE FUTURE

By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from New York

President Mahinda Rajapaksa with US Congressman Foscella

Vito Fossella, the US Republican Congressman told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New York that whether it’s Al Queda or LTTE the two countries have got to be united against terrorism as although the names differ the results of terrorism under wherever and whatever name it is practiced are the same.

Calling Sri Lanka a key ally of the United States in the war against terror the congressman said he wanted to see such corporation is extended even into the future.

Fossella who represents New York’s Staten Island where the majority of Americans of Sri Lankan origin live in New York called upon the Sri Lankan President at the Millenium UN Plaza Hotel where the President was staying in. The President was with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat Dr. Palitha Kohona, Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Foreign Secretary H.M. G. S. Palihakkara and other officials at the time of meeting. Mr. Sumith de Silva coordinated the meeting between the Congressman and the President.
Considered to be a strong friend of Sri Lanka in the US Congress Fosella played a leading part in helping Sri Lanka when Tsunami struck the Indian Ocean island republic two years ago.

Fossella said that the LTTE was killing an average of five soldiers a day while they were declaring that that a ceasefire was adhered to before Sri Lanka was forced to take a defensive action against this terrorism.

He said the US government does not negotiate with terrorists since they understood only one language but he fully understood Sri Lanka’s approach to finding a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

President Rajapaksa and Congressman Fossella discussed at length the commonalities of terrorism practiced against both Sri Lanka and the United States.

)fficials at the meeting from left to right UN amabassador Prasad kariyawasam, Foreign Secretary Palihakkara, Washington Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke, Dr. Palitha Kohona, Photo by Walter Jayawardhana

Fosella said he very much appreciated the fact that Sri Lanka was a working democracy, in fact one of Asia’s oldest democracies where change of power after elections takes place peacefully. He said the Sri Lankans have been changing government every now and then.

President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka, although devastated by the Tsunami has re-built 97,000 new houses within the short period of time.

Answering a question by a US reporter from New York the President said some NGO’s who went to Sri Lanka and paying huge hotel bills with millions collected for Tsunami relief has spent only 250 US dollars for relief work itself. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said many preferred staying at Arugam Bay, one of the finest surfing beaches. Actually some of them were squandering charity money on pleasure, he said.

President Rajapaksa thanked the US Congressman for the generous support extended to Sri Lanka during the Tsunami disaster.

President Rajapaksa invited Congressman Fosella to visit Sri Lanka and see for himself the progress made on the Tsunami reconstruction.