Fiona O’Donnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona O’Donnell on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his priorities are for the UK’s relationship with Sri Lanka.

Mr Hugo Swire

The UK will work to reinvigorate its relationship with the people of Sri Lanka and President Sirisena’s government. We already have strong links in trade, education, tourism and between our people. The President’s election is a new opportunity for Sri Lanka to build a stable, prosperous and inclusive future for all Sri Lankans. President Sirisena’s early visit to the UK from 7-11 March clearly expressed a renewed friendship between our two countries. The UK has offered support to the newly elected President and Prime Minister as they seek to implement their ambitious reform programme and take steps to reconcile all Sri Lankan people. However, we have been clear we want to see Sri Lanka deliver on its commitments to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by September.