Hugo Swire met with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera today, the visit being the first to the UK since the new government was formed.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office quoted Foreign Office Minister for Asia, Hugo Swire as saying the following:
Following the warm reception I received in Sri Lanka at the end of last month, I was delighted to welcome Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, to the UK this afternoon. The fact that we have had visits in both directions in the first month of the new government goes to show the importance we both place on reinvigorating our relationship.
We discussed again the importance of Sri Lanka making progress on reconciliation and accountability, and the new government’s desire to work closely with the international community. As I made clear when I visited Colombo and Jaffna just two weeks ago, the UK is a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka, and stands ready to help in any way it can.
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Foreign Office Minister for Asia, Hugo Swire , with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera outside Downing Street. Pic courtesy @HugoSwire[/caption]
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to vacate his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo this morning, a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) source said.
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed by a majority of 150 in parliament today. However the opposition MP’s were absent during the voting.
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