Colombo, Nov 8 (NIA) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, on Tuesday, briefed a visiting British Minister on the steps taken by the unity government to strengthen democracy, human rights and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
A statement by the Foreign Ministry said that Samaraweera held discussions with Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, in the capital, where the two ministers also discussed the future direction of the Commonwealth.
Baroness Analey stated that she was pleased to see the improvements made with regard to reconciliation in Sri Lanka and hoped that provisions will be set up in the new Constitution to further strengthen the Sri Lankan government’s reconciliation efforts.
This is the first high level visit undertaken by a British official after the new UK government was formed under Prime Minister Theresa May in July, 2016.
During her visit the Minister will reiterate the UK’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in strengthening democracy and human rights including tackling gender based and sexual violence, delivering reconciliation and combating corruption.
The Minister will discuss these issues with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Samaraweera and Opposition Leader and Leader of minority Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan.
As the British Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Minister will also raise awareness of the need to tackle the stigmatisation of sexual violence and will meet with civil society organisations working on preventing sexual violence.
