The British Foreign Office Minister for Asia said he hopes Sri Lanka will implement a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution before June 2016, in a statement released ahead of his arrival on the island today.
Hugo Swire said “Sri Lanka made important commitments when it co-sponsored a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution in Geneva last October, which we hope to see implemented ahead of the June 2016 UNHRC”.
The minister is scheduled to visit Jaffna during his visit, where he will meet with the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council Justice C.V. Wigneswaran and join Thai Pongal celebrations.
He is also expected to meet with Sri Lankan government politicians with the UK Foreign Office saying “discussions will focus on further developing cooperation between the two countries and on UK support for Sri Lankan efforts to tackle the legacy of the conflict”.
“The United Kingdom has much to offer Sri Lanka and we are determined to help, not least through our Prime Minister’s commitment to a further £6.6 million of support over the next 3 years,” said Mr Swire. “We want to see all Sri Lankans reaping the benefits of sustainable prosperity, underpinned by a stable and secure country.”
“I have been encouraged and impressed by President Sirisena’s government, his commitment to tackle the legacy of Sri Lanka’s conflict – which has cast a shadow for too many years – and his keenness to restore democracy, underpinned by a stable, secure and integrated country,” he added.
Ahead of his visit UK based charity Freedom From Torture released a statement calling on the minister to demand an urgent plan from the Sri Lankan government to put an end to torture on the island.
See our earlier post: Freedom From Torture calls on UK to demand end to torture in Sri Lanka (13 Jan 2016)
Hugo Swire said “Sri Lanka made important commitments when it co-sponsored a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution in Geneva last October, which we hope to see implemented ahead of the June 2016 UNHRC”.
The minister is scheduled to visit Jaffna during his visit, where he will meet with the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council Justice C.V. Wigneswaran and join Thai Pongal celebrations.
He is also expected to meet with Sri Lankan government politicians with the UK Foreign Office saying “discussions will focus on further developing cooperation between the two countries and on UK support for Sri Lankan efforts to tackle the legacy of the conflict”.
“The United Kingdom has much to offer Sri Lanka and we are determined to help, not least through our Prime Minister’s commitment to a further £6.6 million of support over the next 3 years,” said Mr Swire. “We want to see all Sri Lankans reaping the benefits of sustainable prosperity, underpinned by a stable and secure country.”
“I have been encouraged and impressed by President Sirisena’s government, his commitment to tackle the legacy of Sri Lanka’s conflict – which has cast a shadow for too many years – and his keenness to restore democracy, underpinned by a stable, secure and integrated country,” he added.
Ahead of his visit UK based charity Freedom From Torture released a statement calling on the minister to demand an urgent plan from the Sri Lankan government to put an end to torture on the island.
See our earlier post: Freedom From Torture calls on UK to demand end to torture in Sri Lanka (13 Jan 2016)