Sri Lanka assumes presidency of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa was conferred the presidency of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) as the 57th session of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference concluded in London on 28 July 2011. The CPA also endorsed Colombo as the venue for its next conference.

Addressing over 600 delegates including 416 MPs and Speakers of the Commonwealth member States, Speaker Rajapaksa thanked the outgoing CPA President, the Speaker of the British Parliament John Bercow, for leading the conference to a successful conclusion and contributing to lift the CPA to greater heights as a vibrant forum of Parliaments of diverse Commonwealth members States.

While conveying felicitations of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to all delegates, as the next host, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa assured them of Sri Lanka’s customary warmth and hospitality when they arrive in Colombo for the 58th Session.

He recalled that this would be the third CPA Conference for Sri Lanka to host, having hosted it in 1974 and 1995. He also appealed to his Commonwealth parliamentary colleagues to extend their support to Sri Lanka in the country’s efforts to consolidate the hard-won peace, and to achieve prosperity and development.

British MP Sir Alan Haselhurst was elected as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the CPA following a tight, three-corner contest.

Princess Royal inaugurated the five-day Conference, which also marked the centenary of the CPA, and read out the message from the patron of the Association, the Queen Elizabeth II. British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague addressed the closing ceremony.

Sri Lanka delegation led by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa included Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Samarasinghe, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Members of Parliament Sudarshani Fernandopulle and M.A. Sumanthiran. Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kithulgoda and Deputy Secretary General Dhammika Dassanayake participated as officials.

As the host of the next CPA conference Sri Lanka maintained an information desk at the venue.