United Kingdom’s State Minister for South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad had commended the progress Sri Lanka had made on the Human Rights front, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said yesterday issuing a press release.

“Lord Tariq Ahmad further stated that Sri Lanka will be able to resolve all issues pertaining to human rights by moving forward with a pragmatic approach,” the PMD said.

It said Minister Ahmad had made these remarks when he called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat Thursday morning (20).

“Responding to a request made by the President to assist Sri Lanka in achieving its goals in renewable energy, Lord Ahmad said he would look into the matter as soon as possible when he returns to his country. He added that people living in the United Kingdom belonging to different ethnic groups were looking forward to making new investments in Sri Lanka. An agreement has been already signed with the United Kingdom to provide employment opportunities for Sri Lankan healthcare workers,” the press release read.

The PMD said that Lord Ahmad also promised to explore the possibility of furthering cooperation in the economic sphere. The President told Lord Ahmad that the Government aimed to solve all the issues faced by Sri Lankans and create an environment where all Sri Lankans could live as one people.

“The President expressed the willingness to work with the Sri Lankan Diaspora in the United Kingdom and requested Lord Tariq Ahmad to provide an opportunity for discussions with the Diaspora. Lord Ahmad said that the United Kingdom is always ready to work in harmony as a close and pragmatic friend of Sri Lanka,” the PMD said.

The year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka and to mark this occasion a celebration is planned to be held. The two men also discussed how to promote the cultural and artistic cooperation between the two countries and to enhance the relationship between the people of the two countries during these celebrations.

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton, First Secretary Mathew Deith, Lord Tariq Ahmad’s Assistant Isabelle Scott, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage were also present.