The Cabinet of Ministers on July 25th approved the National Action Plan on the implementation of recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

The Plan lists out implementation of recommendations according to Activity, Key Responsible Agency, Key Performance Indicator and Timeframe.

The action plan covers International Humanitarian Issues, Human Rights, Return of Land, and Resettlement, Restitution/ Compensatory Relief and Reconciliation.

The Plan was drafted by a committee headed by the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga who was appointed by the Cabinet to oversee the implementation of LLRC recommendations.

"We take LLRC recommendations very seriously," Mr. Weeratunga said addressing the media at the Ministry of External Affairs on July 26th.

Briefing media on the progress made by his committee, the Secretary said the action plan prepared by the committee is not sacrosanct and any fruitful suggestions are always welcome.

According to Mr. Weeratunga, the committee has categorized 285 recommendations made by the LLRC and many have already been implemented.

Some of the recommendations will be implemented this year while the rest may be implemented next year after the budget for 2013 is prepared as the 2012 budget allocations to the ministries have been made before the release of the LLRC report last year, Secretary to the President said.

The Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris said according to the report, around 98% of the resettlement work had been completed while 90% of the rehabilitation had been done. Furthermore, Prof. Peiris stated that the demining process was largely complete while only small pockets remained.