UK High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton, met with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, G. L. Peiris, last week to discuss bilateral relations, trade and human rights.
The discussion touched on a range of subject matters including reconciliation, enforced disapperances, accountability and reperations. Sarah Hulton further raised specific concern over "high profile Sri Lankan cases".
The meeting follows similar discussions between UK Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Tariq Ahmed and Peiris a few days prior. During these discussions trade and investment in the Port City project were raised, as well as "relations with the diaspora". It comes as Sri Lanka's President claims a willingness to engage in discussions with the Tamil diaspora but has imposed widereaching proscriptions on Tamil organisations.
Demands to impose bilateral pressure on Sri Lanka
The meeting with the British authorities comes as senior MPs across the isle have urged the British government to impose bilateral pressure on Sri Lanka to ensure "accountability for mass atrocities, and a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Tamil people".
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Speaking at a conference held by Tamils for Labour, Shadow Foreign Secretary, Lisa Nandy reaffirmed her party's demands for concrete action on Sri Lanka, including a referral to the International Criminal Court.
Conservative MP Robert Halfon has also spoken out against the genocide Tamils have suffered and demanded sanctions on alleged war criminals such as Shavendra Silva. He further maintained the need for the UN to recognise the genocide of Tamils.
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