The revival meeting to elect the office bearers for the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association of Tenth Parliament was held at the Parliament premises on 23.01.2025 under the patronage of the Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. The British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka H.E Andrew Patrick participated as the chief guest and Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees Mrs. Hemali Weerasekara, Hon. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera and Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Chaminda Kularatna were present at the occasion.
During the meeting Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, was appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka – UK Parliamentary Friendship Association while Hon. Member of Parliament, (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam was appointed as the Secretary.
Addressing the occasion, Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne stated that over the past seven decades, Sri Lanka-UK ties have grown stronger and the revival of this Friendship Association is a testament to the strong bond between two nations. Speaker pointed out that it provides a platform to deepen cooperation, especially in areas like trade, investment, and tourism, while strengthening the ties between our Parliaments and peoples. The UK’s support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and contributions to debt restructuring as a Paris Club member was commended by the Speaker. He also extended his gratitude to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy for its invaluable contributions to empowering Members of Parliament and staff through workshops, conferences, and study tours.
Speaking at the event, the High Commissioner of the UK in Sri Lanka, H.E. Andrew Patrick, highlighted that nearly 50,000 Sri Lankan students are currently studying in the UK and expressed hopes of further strengthening educational links. He emphasized that the UK aims to continue fostering long-standing bilateral ties between the two countries. The High Commissioner also noted that, according to global economic growth projections over the next 30 years, this region will become increasingly influential, and he believes that Sri Lanka is well-positioned for a bright future.
Hon. Member of Parliament Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, who was appointed President of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Association, expressed his gratitude for the appointment. He emphasized that reviving the Association marks a significant step toward enhancing the strong and enduring relationship between the two nations. “Let us work together to make this association a powerful platform for exploring and realizing new avenues of collaboration between Sri Lanka and the UK,” he stated.
In his address, Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, emphasized the importance of the revived Parliamentary Friendship Association in strengthening bilateral relations, fostering legislative collaboration, and deepening ties between the two countries.
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