Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris visited Jesus College of the University of Cambridge on 31 October, for a discussion related to issues in Sri Lanka and a "way forward".
Among those participating were Professor Sir Ivan Lawrence QC, the Rt. Hon. Sir Rupert Jackson PC QC, Professor Mads Andenas QC, Professor Andy Haynes, Professor Barry Rider, Ms Kim Hollis QC and Dr. Dominic Thomas - James.
Last month a number of British MPs criticised a meeting between the UK Foreign minister and G.L. Peiris on the grounds that they were flouting the UK's commitment to upholding human rights. Peiris is serving in a government led by the Rajapaksa brothers, both of whom stand credibly accused of committing war crimes. Aligned with the policies of the Rajapaksa regime, earlier this year Peiris stated that parities representing the rights of Tamils and Muslims and other minorities on the Island do "great damage".
Discussions with academics around Sri Lanka's future come as the Sri Lankan government has ruled out talks with banned Tamil diaspora groups in addressing "internal issues of the country", including enforced disappearances. Foreign Minister, G.L Peiris told the Daily Mirror that the state, “will instead look at engaging with others.”
In 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa was greeted on his arrival at London’s Heathrow airport by hundreds of Tamil protestors, who also demonstrated outside of the luxury Park Lane hotel where he was staying. He was due to speak at the prestigious Oxford Union, but the scale of the protests soon led to the speech being cancelled.
Read more at the Sri Lankan Foreign ministry
