Lankan delegation for CPU conference

The 57th conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union (CPU) to mark the centenary anniversary is being held from July 22 to 28 in London.

The conference is being attended by senior political representatives of 53 countries of the Commonwealth and is held under the aegis of Queen Elizabet II.

The Sri Lankan delegation led by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa comprises Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Members of Parliament Sudarshani Fernandopulle and M.A. Sumanthiran.

The delegation also includes the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kitulgoda and Deputy Secretary General W.B.D. Dassanayake as the Secretary of the Asian Region. The delegation left the island on July 21. The theme of this year's conference is 'Reinforcing Democracy'.

At the conference, Speaker Rajapaksa is scheduled to be appointed as the next Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union. It is of significance that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be appointed as deputy patron of the conference of which the patron is the Queen.

The next conference is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in September 2012.