FM meets with Shadow Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons

(April 04, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama met with Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague in the House of Commons on 03rd April 2008. Shadow Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Keith Simpson was also present.

Minister Rohitha Bogollagama warmly recalled his internship at the Conservative Party Central Office in the early 1990s and his interactions with the then Conservative leaders. Mr. Hague also recalled his visit to Sri Lanka in 2001.

Minister Bogollagama pointed out the necessity for the international community to be more sensitive to the ground realities describing Sri Lanka as a democracy fighting terrorism. He enumerated the constraints faced in this regard as the government’s primary obligation was to protect and ensure the well being of all its citizens. He stated that the salient characteristic of the LTTE which fundamentally differentiated it from the IRA was its refusal to tolerate dissent and participate in the democratic process. He informed Mr. Hague that the government has always been ready to talk to the LTTE on core political issues aimed at reaching a final political solution. He described the steps taken by the government to implement the 13th amendment to the constitution and the holding of recent elections in the eastern province as evidence of the government’s seriousness about the political process. He also referred to the forthcoming visit of an APRC delegation to the UK to study the functioning of devolved Institutions which would facilitate the dialogue aimed at reaching a final solution through the APRC process.

On the areas of concern with regard to human rights issues Minister Bogollagama explained on the slow progress in completing investigations that the government could not interfere in the judicial process. He explained that even with regard to investigations into the killing of his predecessor Lakshman Kadirgamar that the due process had taken considerable time. With regard to the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) report the Minister pointed out that the members had absented themselves from the sittings of the commission and attempted to work through their support staff thus being unaware of the situation at first hand. He further explained that they had failed to understand the constitutional role of the Attorney General in Sri Lanka’s judicial process. He felt that the significant decline in human rights abuses over the last one year also needed to be acknowledged.

They discussed a range of other issues including the EU GSP + review for Sri Lanka and the importance of these concessions a source of livelihood of a large segment of the population, recent and forthcoming elections in the east, LTTE fundraising and propaganda activities in the UK and the need to continue the close engagement with the UK with which Sri Lanka has very close ties. Shadow Foreign Secretary Hague agreed to assist in every way possible, and stated that he is looking forward to visiting Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Minister who concludes his visit to the UK today also met with a group of parliamentarians from both Houses last evening. The meeting was chaired by the Rt. Hon. The Lord Naseby, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka. This morning Foreign Minister Bogollagama also met with Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Davey and had an exchange of views on the developments in Sri Lanka.

- Sri Lanka Guardian