NEWS RELEASES

November 18, 2005 (8:00 p.m. EST)
No. 227

CANADA WELCOMES SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF SRI LANKA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today welcomed the successful conclusion of elections for the President of Sri Lanka. The elections took place on November 17, 2005.

“The Government of Canada congratulates Sri Lankans on the election of a new President and is encouraged that, in most parts of the country, people were able to vote in high numbers. However, Canada expresses disappointment in the boycott that was called by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and the use of violence and intimidation to prevent the participation of Sri Lankans, particularly Tamils and Muslims, in areas controlled by the LTTE.”

Mr. Pettigrew also reinforced Canada’s willingness to assist in the peace process and called upon President Rajapaksa and his government to continue to pursue a peaceful, politically negotiated solution to the country’s civil war.

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