Australian parliamentary delegation in Sri Lanka

A five-member Australian parliamentary delegation visited Sri Lanka on the invitation of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

The delegation which arrived on |||Thursday was led by Maria Vamvakinou MP of the ruling Labour Party.

She was accompanied by another Labour Party MP, Harry Jenkins who till recently was the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.

Three other members from the Opposition Liberal Party are also part of the delegation.

The Australian MPs called on Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in Parliament. Both sides welcomed the opportunity to enhance cooperation between the two Parliaments and to broaden the dialogue between lawmakers of the two countries.

The Australian delegation also held talks with the Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the President of the Sri Lanka - Australia Parliamentary Friendship Association, MP Thilanga Sumathipala. The delegates are due to call on the External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

This is an opportunity for Australian lawmakers to witness first-hand the reconciliation process under way in Sri Lanka and assess the reconstruction and development process in the country.

Australia has offered significant developmental aid to Sri Lanka in recent years often contributing more than the stipulated amounts in the federal budget.