Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to begin his working visit to Sri Lanka today.
“… The President appointed me as his special envoy to help with the consolidation of peace in Sri Lanka. So I will be travelling with a number of our colleagues, who will be part of this delegation, to go to Sri Lanka,” said the Deputy President on Sunday evening.
Deputy President Ramaphosa has already met with Sri Lankan representatives in South Africa on a few occasions.
“We are going to listen to the Sri Lankans. We have already met them a few times in South Africa, but this time around we are going to go to Colombo and meet the government, the President of Sri Lanka and a number of other government ministers,” the Deputy President said.
During his visit, he will also meet opposition parties and travel to the north where conflict in that country is at its fiercest.
“We will discuss with people in the community. We will also try to help the Sri Lankans with the Truth and Reconciliation process, their own constitutional reform and make sure Sri Lanka does indeed become a stable country where they will enjoy human rights,” he added.
In February, President Jacob Zuma announced that Ramaphosa has been appointed as South Africa’s special envoy to Sri Lanka and South Sudan. His appointment came at the request of Sri Lanka and South Sudan for assistance in bringing about peace and reconciliation.
“His expertise in conflict resolution and negotiations, as well as our country’s experience in this regard, will greatly assist the two countries to resolve their problems,” said the President during his State of the Nation address at the time.
The President said progress was being made in negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan on outstanding issues following the secession.
Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday. - SAnews.gov.za
