On Thursday 20 October, the prime minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, called on the European Union to provide his country with greater financial support.
He told the European Parliament foreign affairs committee that "we have a major economic problem (…) We need help to develop a package for these regions [which were affected by the civil war and have to be rebuilt]; we have received assistance and investment from you but we are asking you once again". He called on the European Union for assistance, adding that "in Jaffna (...) there is a lot of reconstruction to do. We have an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but we need an agreement with others if the economy is to advance. We need 1 or two billion to effect change in Jaffna". EU development assistance for the 2014-20 period stands at €210 million. According to the European External Action Service, the EU will finance projects particularly to support the Sri Lankan government's reconciliation priorities.
The prime minister spoke about the subject of progress in terms of reconciliation in his country. "The Tamils are now in opposition and working with us on the question of reconciliation with the Tamil people, with the north of the country", and on re-establishing normal interethnic relations in Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe added. He also emphasised that he wanted to increase the powers of the provincial councils.
Colombo’s Brexit concerns. The Sri Lankan prime minister also expressed concern about in the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. "We are concerned about the effect of Brexit on our exports and British investments in our country", he said. He added that his country would be discussing a framework agreement with the United Kingdom once the latter had triggered Article 50. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)