Lanka can learn from Russia's Chechnya experiance: envoy

Sri Lanka, which is engaged in reconciliation efforts with minority ethnic Tamils, can learn from Russia's experiance in Chechnya, the Russian Ambassador said here today.
Russia is willing to give Sri Lanka its Chechnya experience post reconciliation, Alexander Karchava said.
He made the proposal to the former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga who heads the governments task force on reconciliation, to send a delegation to Chechnya to learn about how the city is being rebuilt after civil-war.
"If Sri Lanka is interested we can arrange the visit," Karchava told reporters, adding that President Maithripala Sirisena will visit Russia in March.

Oil-rich Chechnya has long been a boiling point for conflict with Moscow in the restive North Caucasus.
After a decade of unsuccessfully fighting for independence, the autonomous region is now firmly under the control of its Russian-appointed leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, although separatist groups continue low-level guerrilla attacks.
Recalling the Russian support to Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council in Geneva during all anti-Sri Lanka resolutions, Karchava said Russia will not interfere in Sri Lanka's domestic affairs.
It was up to Sri Lanka to addresses concerns over the war. All conflicts must be resolved peacefully, he asserted.