§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent meetings he and other Ministers in his Department have had with members of the Sri Lankan Cabinet.
§ Mr. RentonOn 30 January my right hon. and learned Friend met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, who also called on my noble Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 31 January. My noble Friend also met the Sri Lankan Minister of National Security on 31 January. During these meetings we discussed matters of mutual interest, including the situation in Sri Lanka. My right hon. and learned Friend took the opportunity to urge the Sri Lankan Government to continue their efforts to reach a negotiated settlement on the inter-communal problem. He also drew attention to the growing public and parliamentary concern in this country about reports of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date members of the Sri Lankan Cabinet recently visited Britain; which visitors were met by Ministers and staff in his Department; and what was the breakdown of costs to public funds.
§ Mr. RentonThe Sri Lankan Foreign Minister paid a private visit to the United Kingdom from 28 January to 3 February. The Sri Lankan Minister of National Security also passed through London on 31 January on his way back to Sri Lanka from the United States. For details of ministerial meetings with the two Sri Lankan Ministers I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his earlier question. During these meetings my right hon. and learned Friend and my noble Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office were accompanied by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. As both visits were private there was no cost to public funds.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those courses, arranged in conjuction with his Department, provided in Britain for Sri Lankan police or security personnel.
§ Mr. RentonThe information is as follows:
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Date Number of Officers Course 26 March 1984 (for 10 weeks) 1 Overseas Command Course (Bramshill) 30 April 1984 (for 10 weeks) 1 Overseas Officers Criminal Investigation Course (West Yorkshire Constabulary) 14 May 1984 (for 3 months) 1 Document Examination Attachment (Metropolitan Police) 9 July 1984 (for 10 weeks) 1 Overseas Command Course (Bramshill) 7 January 1985 (for 18 weeks) 1 Driving School Management Course (Lancashire Constabulary) 7 January—1 February 1985 1 Instruction Training Attachment (Essential Planning Unit, Harrogate; Bramshill and Hendon Police College)
Date Number of Officers Course 21 January 1985 (for 10 weeks) 1 Overseas Criminal Investigation Course (West Yorkshire Constabulary) In addition, we provide limited training in the UK, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for a small number of personnel from the Sri Lankan armed forces on the same basis as for personnel from other Commonwealth and friendly countries.