Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. The discussions involve a number of Commonwealth countries. The first part of it is true, a number are willing to participate to do different things. On the Commonwealth as an institution secretariat, I don't know the answer, but I can find out and get back to you through the clerk.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's a difficult question, but it is absolutely key, because I think for any conflict you find anywhere in the world, if years later people are still situated in IDP camps, you haven't solved the problem. So in fact that's where our efforts are. Beyond the immediate concerns, we have to find out where we're going from there.

Foreign Affairs committee  I would hope my colleagues could chip in here, because you're asking for a personal reflection of what we can do. I had a very good colleague, who was the Norwegian ambassador from Sri Lanka, and he did take me through this process. But it was at a different time, in the sense that there was a stalemate in the fighting—neither side had the upper hand and neither side was under threat of imminent demise—so it was possible to get them talking in third countries.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Dewar, I might add just a quick comment as well. There are the people from CIDA, from the humanitarian group, who are there. We also have 12 Canada-based staff, and I can assure you there is nothing else they're doing these days but looking at the issue here. That includes the CIDA people who are there on a normal basis; it includes our political officers; it includes everyone.

Foreign Affairs committee  The short answer is yes, but it's not just the Commonwealth. As I mentioned in my remarks, we have regular meetings—and I don't mean once a month, I mean once every one or two days now—with our G-8 partners and with the co-chairs, a regular daily kind of update. We're watching resources for humanitarian aid; we're looking at political pressures.

Foreign Affairs committee  As I mentioned, I'm going to be at the Asian Development Bank meetings. We've been talking to our colleagues at the World Bank and other places, because all of us are looking at this in terms of what kind of development would be needed over the long term and short term, that is, reconstruction versus humanitarian aid.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. There were seven questions in one there. The first part is that I've expressed Minister Cannon's priorities, which are, number one, a humanitarian pause, which is the same as you have said. You can work on the displaced persons--you can do that--but where people are at risk right now is in what you call the corridor, or the conflict zone, whatever you want to call it.

Foreign Affairs committee  We use a figure of 250,000, although our colleagues at Canadian immigration use a slightly lower figure. The reason is because immigrants, as opposed to second and third generation...it's a little bit of how you count people. We take the larger figure because we believe the people of Sri Lankan descent would be in the range of 250,000.

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't think we're at the step of sanctions as yet within the UN or within the Commonwealth, or with anybody. We see a country that is close to ruins, and it is going to need assistance at the other end to get them to the state, as you said in your first question.... While we always look at where you may eventually end up in terms of a public policy issue and a government policy issue, I think it is too soon to say that this is the appropriate action that will get you somewhere.

Foreign Affairs committee  There are several different assessment things. We have people on the ground right now. In fact, this evening, Colombo time, our high commissioner is meeting with the foreign minister and others. So it's not a case of contacting them; we're in daily contact. The issue is getting their approval that allows us on the ground in the conflict zone.

Foreign Affairs committee  The answer is yes. We're looking at the immediate humanitarian issues that have already been raised, but you cannot solve this by short-term steps. The short term is only to make sure that people survive. The long term is what kind of life they're going to live. At all levels, we have been working with the Government of Sri Lanka.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. But perhaps there is another side to that issue. You used the word “self-determination”; we believe the situation has gone beyond an internal situation. The nations of the world, the diaspora around the world...many people have an interest in what the future of this country is going to look like.

Foreign Affairs committee  Oh, yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  Sure, I'll take the first crack at it. Let me preface this by saying that this will be a quick reaction, and I think it obviously requires a lot more discussion with you and others. First, I think we're all in agreement that the biggest issue is how to save lives. There are two parts to that.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is truly a pleasure to be here today with old friends and colleagues. Mr. Chairman, I'm here to provide you with an update on the current situation in Sri Lanka and the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.