Remarks by H.E. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, Ambassador for Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bhutan at the 12th Round Table Meeting for Bhutan
11th – 12th December 2013, Thimphu, Bhutan
Hon. Co-Chairpersons,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
I have the honour to represent the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka at this important meeting. The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes this opportunity to attend this meeting together with Development Partners of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Sri Lanka enjoys a warm and close relationship with Bhutan based on SAARC framework of friendship as well as our common religious and cultural bonds. We in Sri Lanka have viewed with admiration the substantial economic and social strides made by Bhutan under the guidance of the erudite leaders of the Kingdom of Bhutan since the inception of development planning in 1961. Evolution of the democratic process in Bhutan has leveraged and acted as a catalyst for this success.
Nevertheless, as amply demonstrated by presentations made by His Excellency Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister and senior officials of Bhutan and UNDP last morning, much more remains to be achieved for Bhutan to shed the attributes of a least developed country and to succeed in reaching millennium development goals and moving towards sustainable prosperity. In this context we welcome the 11th five year plan ushered by Hon. Prime Minister of Bhutan. We appreciate that this plan is a result of broad based consultations with all relevant stakeholders and has the blessings of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.
Sri Lanka firmly supports the vision contained in this five year plan,manifestedly based on development ethos that balance material gains with the four pillars essential for the wellbeing of human beings which is popularly known to the world as the yardstick for achieving Gross National Happiness.
We in Sri Lanka for long years have recognized the value of human resources and have expended substantial efforts for building human resource capacities in various fields. We have,as a result,succeeded in achieving high physical quality of life.And we now stand ready to share suitable products of our capacityin human resources with those countries in need, whenever an opportunity arises. In this context we are pleased with the arrangements already in place for rendering assistance to Bhutan in fulfilling some of its human resource requirements in the health sector. Sri Lanka intends to broaden and deepen the human resource developmentopportunitiesfor Bhutan in relevant areas of necessity on the basis of special terms and facilities. At this juncture in addition to medical sector, Sri Lanka is willing to share training opportunities in accountancy, management, archaeology and preventive healthcare.In this context further consultations will be conducted with a view to arriving at appropriate concessionary arrangements with relevant Sri Lankan institutions of excellence.
In conclusion, may I convey once again Sri Lanka’s commitment to walk together with our brothers and sisters in Bhutan towards greater economic and social development with a view to ushering a peaceful and prosperous South Asia.
I thank the Royal Government of Bhutan and UNDP for the excellent arrangements made for this meeting and the pleasing hospitality accorded.
Thank you
Ayubowan
Tashi Delek