§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the content of her discussions with President Jayewardene of Sri Lanka during his current visit to the United Kingdom; whether their discussions included the subject of military aid to Sri Lanka; whether any military aid agreements have been 554W proposed or concluded between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterPresident Jayewardene is a welcome visitor to this country. My private discussion with him covered the current situation in Sri Lanka, and other topics of mutual interest, including the British aid programme. Sri Lanka has in the past received a small amount of military assistance in the form of training courses for individual officers in Britain. The 1947 United Kingom-Ceylon Defence Agreement is the only such agreement between this country and Sri Lanka.