§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas of Sri Lanka(a) the British High Commissioner and (b) a member of his staff has visited during the last 12 months; and what action has been taken by his Department following receipt of the reports made by him or his staff. [175165]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe British High Commissioner has visited the districts of Kilinochchi, Kandy and the Vanni during the past 12 months. Members of the British High Commission have visited the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle, Moneragala, Kandy, Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Ampara, Ratnapura, Kilinochchi, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa. Jaffna. Sigiriya, Puttalam, Dambulla, Moratuwa, Hambantota, Galle, Matara and Diyatalawa. Their reports have been used to inform policy.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with the Government of Sri Lanka human rights issues within that country; and if he will make a statement. [175166]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have not yet had the opportunity to discuss human rights issues with the new Sri Lankan Government. However I discussed the peace process, including the need to strengthen it with a credible and effective human rights enforcement machinery, last September with GL Peiris, then Minister for Constitutional Affairs, and government spokesman on the peace process. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo, including the High Commissioner, raise this issue with the Sri Lankan authorities on a regular basis.