Foreign Secretary meets Tamil National Alliance in Colombo

Friday 15 Nov 2013 @ 10:05
Foreign,Commonwealth and Development Office

Foreign Secretary William Hague discusses devolution and reconciliation in Sri Lanka with the Tamil National Alliance during CHOGM.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague met members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He stressed his support for a peaceful and stable Sri Lanka and noted that the protection of minority and human rights for all was paramount in achieving long lasting peace.

Elections took place in the North of Sri Lanka on 21 September and the TNA won a large majority to form a northern provincial council. These were the first elections to be held in this region and are an important step towards reconciliation and finding a lasting political settlement after three decades of violent conflict.

The Foreign Secretary said:

An important part of my purpose of coming to Sri Lanka was to meet members of the Tamil community as well as those working across Sri Lanka to promote human rights, reconciliation and accountability for past crimes. I am pleased that the Prime Minister is visiting the north of Sri Lanka to see for himself the work that needs to be done to address the legacy of the conflict.

I am calling on the Sri Lankan government to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into alleged war crimes, improve Sri Lanka’s human rights record and for both the government and the TNA to work constructively together towards a political settlement that delivers meaningful devolution for the North of the country.

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