The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin, has been on a two day visit to the North-East, where he was briefed on several issues by members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Northern Provincial Council, international agencies working in the area and civil society.
Speaking on his visit, Rankin said,
“In all our discussions, we highlighted the continued importance of addressing issues of accountability, the vital importance of pursuing long-term reconciliation and the need for respect for human rights. We believe that positive developments in these areas will contribute to peace and prosperity for all the people in Sri Lanka.”“We noted the continuing challenges including finding a durable solution for the remaining IDPs- and heard about the problems faced by single women and women heads of households, including from sexual violence. We also engaged with the Chief Minister and the Governor on how the Northern Provincial Council can function more fully.”
“My team and it met a range of individuals and groups who continue to play a significant role in Jaffna. We’ve seen the continuing welcome economic development and discussed how it can trickle down to benefit all sections of society. We also discussed how the diaspora can support inward investment.”
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