BAHAMAS SENDS CONDOLENCES TO SRI LANKA ON MURDER OF FOREIGN MINISTER

The Bahamas has sent condolences to the Government of Sri Lanka following the assassination of its Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar.  Mr. Kadirgamar was a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) of which The Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Fred Mitchell, serves as Vice Chairman. 

In a letter for the Government of Sri Lanka, it was noted that The Bahamas “is aware of the contribution made by Mr. Kadirgamar to the work of the Commonwealth… [and] also conscious of the contributions [he] made on behalf of the peace process in Sri Lanka.  Tragically, it appears that this might have cost him his life. 

The letter continues with the sincere hope “that the sacrifice of his life would not disrupt the progress made to date, but rather that it would propel the process to a speedy and amicable resolution”. 

Relations between The Bahamas and Sri Lanka, formally established in July of this year, are good; with The Bahamas among the countries which started a fund to assist certain victims of the recent tsunami that affected that nation.

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16^th August, 2005