SRI LANKA DELEGATION VISITS ASSEMBLY

A Sri Lankan delegation today visited the Northern Ireland Assembly and met with the Deputy Speaker, Mr Francie Molloy, MLA. The visitors are members of a Committee which advises the Sri Lankan Government on possible solutions to the on-going conflict in that country.

Commenting on the visit, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Francie Molloy said:

“I am delighted that the Sri Lankan parliamentarians are visiting the Northern Ireland Assembly. Since the early days of the Assembly, we have benefited greatly from the considerable amount of advice and support we received from other parliaments. We are pleased that we are now in a position to share our experience with others.

“I hope that the Sri Lankan delegation will find their visit to the Assembly beneficial and that the advice and guidance they receive will help them in the many challenges that lie ahead. I wish them well for the future”

Later in the afternoon, the delegation will meet with representatives of the political parties to discuss political leadership in a post conflict situation as part of a wider visit to Northern Ireland.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The representatives meeting with the delegation are as follows:
Mr Francie Molloy MLA, Deputy Speaker
Mr David Ford MLA, Alliance Party
Mr Robin Newton MLA, DUP
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA, UUP

The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) from Sri Lanka comprises of:

(Chairman) Hon Prof Tissa Vitarana MP - Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP)
Minister of Science and Technology (MBBS and PhD in Microbiology)

Mr Nizam Kariapper - Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)
Secretary General, Attorney-at-Law and Member of Constitutional Affairs Committee

Mr M M Abul Kalam - National Unity Alliance (NUA)
Deputy Leader, Attorney-at-Law and Chairman/Condominium Management Authority

Mr Raja Collure - Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CP)
Chairman, Attorney-at-Law and Chairman/Official Languages Commission ( fmr MP)

Mr Y L S Hameed - All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC)
Secretary General and Chairman/Ceylon Shipping Corporation

Dr Adambawa Uthumalebbe - National Congress (NC)
Senior Deputy Leader and Vice Chairman/National Water Supply & Drainage Board

Prof S Vijesandiran - Up Country People's Front (UCPF)
Politbureau Member, Senior Lecturer Economics, University of Peradeniya

Mr D Mathi Yugarajah - Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC)
Vice President and Member of Central Provincial Council

Mr D P Mendis - Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)
Member and President’s Counsel

Mr R A D Sirisena - United National Party (Democratic)
Secretary, Senior Advisor to Hon Karu Jayasuriya, Ministry of Public Administration

Ms Shirani Goonatilleke
Director-Legal, Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP)

Media Enquiries to:
Stephanie Mallon, Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office, Room B2, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX.
Tel No: 028 9052 1953. Fax: 02890 521961.
Website Address – www.niassembly.gov.uk
Email: info.office@niassembly.gov.uk

Deputy Speaker Francie Molloy welcomes Hon Prof Tissa Vitarana MP of the All Party Representative Committee Sri Lanka