The Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Anelay, will arrive in Sri Lanka today.
She will visit Colombo and Jaffna from 6 to 9 November, on her first official visit to Sri Lanka. During her visit the minister will reiterate the UK’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in strengthening democracy and human rights (including tackling gender based and sexual violence), delivering reconciliation and combating corruption, the British High Commission in Colombo said.
The minister is expected discuss these issues with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Opposition Leader and Leader of Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan. In Jaffna, Baroness Anelay will meet the Governor of the Northern Province Reginald Cooray and Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council C.V. Wigneswaran.
The minister will also meet recent returnees to land cleared of mines by British demining charity The HALO Trust, the statement said. While in Colombo, Baroness Anelay is scheduled to meet with members of civil society to discuss reconciliation and human rights.
