Justice and National Integration Minister appointed President of Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Association

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 02:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The revival meeting to elect office bearers for the Sri Lanka-United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association of the 10th Parliament was held at the Parliament premises on 23 January under the patronage of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick participated as the Chief Guest and Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MPs, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, and Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatna were present at the occasion.

During the meeting, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara was appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Association, while MP Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam was appointed Secretary.

Addressing the occasion, Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne stated that over the past seven decades, Sri Lanka-UK ties have grown stronger and the revival of this Friendship Association is a testament to the strong bond between two nations.

He pointed out that it provides a platform to deepen cooperation, especially in areas like trade, investment, and tourism, while strengthening the ties between our Parliaments and peoples. The UK’s support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and contributions to debt restructuring as a Paris Club member was commended by the Speaker.

Dr. Wickramaratne also extended his gratitude to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy for its invaluable contributions to empowering MPs and staff through workshops, conferences, and study tours.

Speaking at the event, the British High Commissioner highlighted that nearly 50,000 Sri Lankan students are currently studying in the UK and expressed hopes of further strengthening educational links. He emphasised that the UK aims to continue fostering long-standing bilateral ties between the two countries. The High Commissioner also noted that, according to global economic growth projections over the next 30 years, this region will become increasingly influential, and he believes that Sri Lanka is well-positioned for a bright future. Minister Nanayakkara, who was appointed President of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Association, expressed his gratitude for the appointment. He emphasised that reviving the Association marks a significant step towards enhancing the strong and enduring relationship between the two nations. “Let us work together to make this association a powerful platform for exploring and realising new avenues of collaboration between Sri Lanka and the UK,” he stated.

In his address, Opposition Leader Premadasa highlighted the importance of the revived Parliamentary Friendship Association in strengthening bilateral relations, fostering legislative collaboration and deepening ties between the two countries.