Minister of foreign affairs Karel De Gucht visits Sri Lanka

On 10th February 2005 Minister Karel De Gucht arrived in Colombo international airport. The Airbus from the Belgian air force carried about 7 tons of relief goods including some boat engines. 69 Soldiers on board came relay the army contingent operating in the Weligama area.

The Minister brought a visit to TAFREN, a government institution, which has been put up to coordinate the different relief initiatives from the private sector, NGO's and the government itself. He had also a meeting scheduled in the afternoon with his Srilankan colleague and the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse about the support of the Belgian government to Sri Lanka. Currently 70 soldiers of the Belgian army are working together with the 'Sri Lanka Southern Coast Reconstruction Program' (SLSCRP) on several projects.

The next day Minister Karel De Gucht inspected the rehabilitation work done by the Belgian army troops in the south. Colonel Van Goethem showed the minister around in the newly opened Kumbalgama IDP camp, which has a capacity of 70 families or 350 persons. Inhabitants of the camp expressed their gratitude towards the Belgian government and Loadstar Pvt. Ltd. In Pelena the army clarified the plan to repair 82 damaged houses rather than to wait for an approval for the construction of new houses. The pupils of the Mirissa school warmly welcomed the Belgian Minister with songs and gifts. Mr K.H.J. Kularatne the Principal guided him through the temporary building housing 5 classrooms, which were just taken into use. Karel De Gucht ended his visit to Sri Lanka with an inspection of the Mirissa harbour and gave us his approving look. The Belgian army has cleared the entrance by lifting all the boats out of the water and is presently still repairing engines in the workshop. The SLSCRP is exploring the option to upgrade the harbour. All this achievements so far were only possible thanks to a close cooperation between SLSCRP and the Belgian army.

After the 2 days visit to Sri Lanka the Minister continued his mission to Indonesia.