British Minister to visit Sri Lanka to discuss reconciliation

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Oct. 3 (APD) -- The British Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field is to visit Sri Lanka to discuss reconciliation, the British High Commission in Colombo said on Tuesday.

The visit to the capital Colombo and Jaffna in the North on the 5th and 6th of October is Field’s first official visit to Sri Lanka since becoming Foreign Office Minister for Asia and the Pacific.

“The UK and Sri Lanka are long-standing friends, and we are committed to supporting Sri Lanka achieve its commitments on reconciliation and human rights. I welcome the Sri Lankan government’s commitment to reconciliation and strengtheningdemocracy. I am looking forward to talking with the government and affected communities about the additional steps that are needed to deliver long-term peace and stability for all Sri Lankans,” Field said.

During his two-day visit he will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana, Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera, Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan, Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya and Governor of the Northern Province Reginald Cooray, the British High Commission in Colombo said.

In Colombo he will meet with families affected by enforced disappearances from both the North and South of the country, and hear of their concerns and their hopes for the Office of Missing Persons.

In Northern Sri Lanka, the Minister will visit a UK-funded demining operation and meet families living on land cleared of mines.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)