Recalling the age-old, time-tested friendship with the UK, Acting Minister of External Affairs Gitanjana Gunawardena invited a cross party delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) UK Branch to encourage more investment from the UK to Sri Lanka, especially the North and the East.

The Acting Minister made these comments when the delegation, which is currently undertaking a visit to Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Parliament, called on the Acting Minister at the External Affairs Ministry on October 18.

The delegation expressed their appreciation for the opportunity given to them to get a firsthand experience in the developments in the country. The British MPs further expressed their commitment to work with the Government of Sri Lanka towards establishing sustainable peace and development in the country.

Minister Gunawardena briefed the delegation on the action taken by the Government with regard to the resettlement of the internally displaced people in the North and East and rehabilitation of the ex-LTTE combatants. The Minister also briefed the Delegation regarding the Government initiatives to improve the livelihood of the conflict affected people through economic empowerment.

In the area of reconciliation and confidence building, the Minister explained the work being done by the Lessons Learnt & Reconciliation Commission, and action already taken to conduct free and fair elections at the Provincial and Local Government levels. The government’s efforts to consult relevant public representatives of all communities in the decision making process was also highlighted.

Elaborating on the measures taken by the Government to have a constructive dialogue with the Tamil diaspora, the Actg. Minister further said that a small section of the diaspora is continuing to disrupt the Government’s initiatives to heal the wounds of thirty years of suffering. In this context, the Minister stressed the need for a clear understanding of the pro-LTTE activities by a section of the diaspora in the UK.

The delegation comprised Rt. Hon Paul Murphy, MP (Labour - Leader of Delegation), Mr. Stephen Hammond, MP (Conservative- Deputy Leader of Delegation), Mr. David Amess, MP (Conservative), Mr. Aidan Burley, MP (Conservative), Lord Dholakia OBE DL (Liberal democrat), Mrs. Helen Grant, MP (Conservative) , Rt. Hon. Lord Grocott (Labour), Ms. Fiona O’Donnel, MP (Labour), Lord Sheikh (Conservative), Mr. Andrew Tuggey (Secretary CPA UK Branch) and Miss Hatty Cooper, Secretary to the Delegation.

Earlier the delegation called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa.