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<p>At the end of January I visited Sri Lanka where I met President Sirisena, Prime
Minister Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Samaraweera, and a number of Deputy Ministers
of the newly elected government. I was delighted to welcome Foreign Minister Samaraweera’s
to the UK in February, which was followed by the visit of President Sirisena and Foreign
Minister Samaraweera in March. During this visit the President had an audience with
Her Majesty The Queen and met the Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member
for Whitney (Mr Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Defence, my right Hon. Friend
the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon). Foreign Minister Samaraweera also met the Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for
Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and Minister of State for the Department for
International Development, my right Hon. Friend the Member for New Forest West (Mr
Swayne), as well as myself.</p><p>Meetings focussed on the new Sri Lankan government’s
plans to build lasting reconciliation across Sri Lanka, and encouraging Sri Lanka
to deliver on its commitments to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In particular,
the Prime Minister welcomed the early commitments announced by President Sirisena
to lead a more democratic and accountable government but was clear that, meaningful
engagement with the ongoing UN process ahead of its report in September is central
to the UK’s continued support for Sri Lanka.</p><p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office
officials in London and at the British High Commission in Colombo remain in regular
and close contact with the new Sri Lankan government.</p><p> </p>
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