South Africa to talk reconciliation, bilateral ties next month
High level meetings with South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Maithripala Sirisena during their meeting next month in Colombo is set to centre on Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process ahead of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session due in March/April.
Mr. Ramaphosa is due to visit Colombo next month, the country’s High Commissioner Geoff Doidge said on Monday with the aim of meeting the new government to discuss the role South Africa could play in Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process. He was speaking on the sidelines of the South Africa Tourism Roadshow in Colombo.
Cyril Ramaphosa
As South Africa is a member of the UNHRC it would be using this opportunity to consult Sri Lanka on the latter’s human rights issues prior to the next UNHRC sessions.
Mr. Ramaphosa’s visit would be preceded by South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindia Mfeketo scheduled to arrive on February 24, Mr. Doidge said.
He said the focus of these high level visits would be on human rights issues, the Commonwealth and bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr. Doidge commenting on what type of reconciliation process would be adopted in Sri Lanka said “We don’t tell countries what to do; we tell countries what we’ve done.” He noted that this would allow them to share their experiences but not try to dictate.
Commenting on the political stability in the country, he noted that they were encouraged by high voter turnout and people’s participation in the democratic process at the last Presidential election in Sri Lanka.
Another meeting scheduled for March 24 is the Partnership Forum, a bilateral meeting between South Africa and Sri Lanka taking place for the fifth time that would look at engaging the two countries on several agreements.
Cooperation in tourism would be carried out through assistance to Sri Lanka on national park management on how to improve the parks, manage demand by public and the protection of flora and fauna. Mr. Doidge said they would also look at how to accommodate large volumes of visitors to parks and develop the Yala national park.
In the area of trade relations South Africa would be looking at negotiations between the two countries on a medium to longer term by establishing a market for its goods and create an “enabling environment,” he explained.
The High Commissioner also pointed out that they were looking towards expanding trade and were beginning to see responsiveness from Sri Lanka and noted that they had already commenced engagement with the new administration.
Sri Lankan businesses participate at the annual South Africa trade exhibition, SAITTEX, he said adding that Sri Lankans were mainly eyeing exports in tyres, garments and tea.
There was a “huge interest” from South African exporters as well for the export of raw materials and semi processed products, fresh produce, steel, gold, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, the high commissioner said.