Sri Lanka

HC Deb 10 February 1993 vol 218 cc680-1W

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Sri Lankan high commissioner.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not met the Sri Lankan high commissioner recently. I last met the high commissioner on 19 January.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Sri Lanka concerning the human rights situation in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We frequently discuss our concerns on human rights with the Sri Lankan Government. We take every opportunity to stress the importance we attach to respect for the rule of law.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Foreign Office officials or Ministers have had with representatives of the Tamil Tigers in(a) Sri Lanka, (b) the United Kingdom and (c) elsewhere, and on what dates.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We try to keep in touch with all shades of Sri Lankan opinion. This is consistent with our frequent offer of good offices if all sides would find it useful to help negotiations take place.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings his Department's officials or Ministers have had with representatives of the Tamil community in the United Kingdom to discuss human rights in Sri Lanka in the last year.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Before I visited Sri Lanka in October 1992, I met a group of representatives of human rights organisations, including those representing Tamil concerns. FCO officials are in frequent contact with both governmental and non-governmental human rights organisations in the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Sri Lanka.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to visit Sri Lanka. I visited Sri Lanka from 12 to 18 October last year.