UK Foreign Secretary William Hague today urged the government and the TNA to work constructively together towards a political settlement that delivers “meaningful devolution” for the North, after meeting representatives of the main Tamil party.

He also called on the Sri Lankan government to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into alleged war crimes and to improve island nation’s human rights record.

Hague discussed devolution and reconciliation in Sri Lanka with members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo.

He stressed his support for a peaceful and stable Sri Lanka and noted that the protection of minority and human rights for all was paramount in achieving long lasting peace, the British High Commission in Colombo said in a statement.

The Foreign Secretary met TNA leader R.Sampanthan and MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Suresh Premachandran, Mavai Sendhiraja  and Selvam Adaikkalanathan.

The Foreign Secretary said:

“An important part of my purpose of coming to Sri Lanka was to meet members of the Tamil community as well as those working across Sri Lanka to promote human rights, reconciliation and accountability for past crimes. I am pleased that the Prime Minister is visiting the north of Sri Lanka to see for himself the work that needs to be done to address the legacy of the conflict.  

“I am calling on the Sri Lankan government to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into alleged war crimes, improve Sri Lanka’s human rights record and for both the government and the TNA to work constructively together towards a political settlement that delivers meaningful devolution for the North of the country.”