Visiting UK Foreign Secretary William Hague held talks with members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on the devolution and reconciliation in Sri Lanka today, the British High Commission in Colombo 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,” the statement said quoting Hague.

During the meeting, which was attended by TNA Leader R. Sampanthan and MPs M.A. Sumanthiran; Suresh Premachandran; Mavai Sendhiraja  and Selvam Adaikkalanathan, the visiting Foreign Secretary 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.”