Australian Parliamentary Delegation Visits Sri Lanka
The delegation visited Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and Kilinochchi district at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Parliament and was particularly interested in discussing the Sri Lankan Government’s post-war progress on reconciliation and resettlement.
The five MPS met ministers, fellow parliamentarians, senior bureaucrats, local officials and community representatives.
They appreciated advice from senior politicians that the report from the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission would be tabled in Parliament shortly. The delegation confirmed Australia’s keen interest in seeing action by the Sri Lankan Government, following the LLRC report, to take forward national reconciliation in a way that provides a basis for sustainable peace and progress.
The delegation also visited Australian-funded aid projects to witness first-hand the tangible difference Australian assistance is making to ordinary Sri Lankans as they rebuild their lives after years of civil war.
The delegation comprised parliamentarians from the governing Australian Labor Party and the opposition Liberal Party. It was led by Ms Maria Vamvakinou, Member for Calwell in the state of Victoria.
Other delegation members included: Mr Rowan Ramsey (Member for Grey, Liberal Party); Mr Harry Jenkins (Member for Scullin, Australian Labor Party); Senator Helen Kroger (Senator for Victoria, Liberal Party); and Dr Andrew Southcott (Member for Boothby, Liberal Party).