A cross‑party delegation from the Parliament of Sri Lanka visited the UK Parliament earlier this month as part of a bilateral programme organised with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretariat UK Branch. 

According to the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, the initiative aimed to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and share best practices between the two legislatures.

The delegation comprised MPs Gayantha Karunathilleka, S.M. Marikkar, Jagath Gunawardana, Thushari Jayasingha, Kanthasamy Prabu, Danushka Ranganath and Ruwan Wijeweera, alongside Secretary‑General Kushani Rohanadeera and Serjeant‑at‑Arms Kushan Sampath Jayarathna.

During the visit, delegates participated in sessions on legislative scrutiny, committee systems, financial oversight and public accountability. 

They also observed parliamentary proceedings, including Prime Minister’s Questions, and engaged with UK parliamentarians, officials and partners such as the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sri Lanka and the CPA Secretariat.

The British High Commission in Sri Lanka further said that the programme provided practical insights to strengthen committee scrutiny, post‑legislative review and inclusive, modern parliamentary practices. (Newswire)

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A high‑level Sri Lankan delegation participated in the U.S. Forum on Indian Ocean Ports and Supply Chains in Washington, D.C., last week, underscoring Colombo’s role in regional maritime connectivity. 

Convened and funded by the U.S. Department of State, the forum brought together Indo‑Pacific partners, port operators, and U.S. private sector leaders to explore resilient infrastructure, secure supply chains, and expanded investment opportunities across the Indian Ocean. 

Delegates from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka explored opportunities in port development, digital transformation with essential cybersecurity, trade financing, and supply chain efficiency, reinforcing the United States’ commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. 

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bethany Morrison opened the forum alongside senior U.S. officials and private sector representatives, underscoring how secure and well-connected regional ports are both an economic imperative and a U.S. national security priority. 

During their visit to the United States, the Sri Lankan delegates toured the Port of Baltimore, where they met with port officials and industry stakeholders to learn about port operations, logistics, innovative equipment and digital platforms, and supply chain management practices that support one of America’s key maritime gateways.   

The Sri Lankan delegation included Deputy Minister of Ports & Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment, Hanif Yusoof, Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, CEO, Shippers Academy Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, Rohan Masakorala, Chairman, Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association, Andre Fernando, Chief Commercial Officer, Colombo West International Terminal, Dashma Karunaratne, Chairman, ABC Shipping (Private) Limited, John Shiran Dissanayake, Chief of Staff, Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment, Aritha Wickramasinghe. 

The forum advances the United States’ strategic interest to deepen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, connect regional governments with U.S. private sector investment and technology, and ensure the Indo-Pacific’s critical maritime infrastructure is built on a foundation of transparency, trust, and shared prosperity. (Newswire)

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A cross-party delegation of UK parliamentarians concluded a 5-day official visit to Sri Lanka last week (25), having participated in workshops alongside members of the Sri Lanka parliament, and engaged with local stakeholders in civil society, business and education. 

According to the British High Commission in Colombo, the visit focused on deepening parliamentary co-operation and shared learning between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka. 

The visit, facilitated by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), saw the delegation engage in cross-party knowledge-sharing sessions with members of the Sri Lankan Parliament. These exchanges focused on legislative affairs and allowed newly elected MPs from both parliaments to share experience and expertise, strengthening democratic practices and parliamentary governance through mutual learning between both sets of parliamentarians. 

The programme also included a call on Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, where government priorities were discussed and the UK’s and Sri Lanka’s shared heritage of parliamentary democracy was reaffirmed.

During the visit, British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick hosted a reception at Westminster House, celebrating the growing ties between the two Parliaments. The event was attended by a range of dignitaries, including the guest of honour, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rizvie Salih. 

Noting the significance of the visit, British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick said: “I am grateful to the UK Parliamentary delegation for their visit, and to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Westminster Foundation for Democracy for facilitating this important exchange. The visit presents an opportunity for us to reaffirm the enduring strength of the UK–Sri Lanka relationship, which is founded on a deep-rooted parliamentary tradition that continues to shape the democratic institutions of our nations. We are proud to play a part in supporting dialogue and democratic exchange to further strengthen ties, benefiting both the UK and Sri Lanka.” 

The 5-day programme included engagements with civil society and Sri Lanka’s Chevening alumni. The delegation also toured the British Council’s Colombo office, the Presidential Secretariat, and paid their respects at the Liveramentu Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery (CWGC). 

The British High Commission states this visit demonstrates the UK’s continued support for democratic development and interparliamentary collaboration within the Commonwealth through shared knowledge and mutual learning. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary delegation, led by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, which visited China to attend the Workshop for Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka, has concluded its visit.

The workshop, organized by the International Cooperation Centre of the National Development and Reform Commission of China and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, was held from June 20 to July 6, 2025.

The delegation comprised both government and opposition members who serve as office bearers and executive committee members of the Sri Lanka-China Parliamentary Friendship Association. 

The government representatives included Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, MPs Samanmali Gunasingha, Lakmali Hemachandra, Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga, Ajith Gihan, Krishnan Kalaichelvi, Dinindu Saman Hennayake, Bhagya Sri Herath, Aboobucker Athambawa, Ashoka Gunasena, and Thanura Dissanayake. 

The opposition was represented by MPa Kins Nelson, B. Ariyawansha, and Anuradha Jayaratne.

The delegation was accompanied by officials, including Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff & Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament, Ranil Nanayakkara, Senior Parliamentary Protocol Officer, and Thilini Thusharika Gamage, Management Service Officer of the Office of the Leader of the House of Parliament.

During the visit, the delegation travelled to Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, where they held productive discussions with Liu Kebin, Vice Mayor and Member of the Party Group of the Shenyang Municipal Government.

As part of their study program, the delegation also visited Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province in eastern China. There, they engaged in bilateral discussions with Chen Zhongwei, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, aimed at further strengthening the cordial relations between the two countries. The program also included several field visits and cultural sightseeing activities.

The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony held in Beijing on July 5, 2025, attended by senior officials from the Department of International Cooperation of the NDRC and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China, Majintha Jayesinghe.

Throughout their stay, the delegation gained valuable insights into various aspects of China’s development journey and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering stronger bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and China. (Newswire)

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Indian Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, has met with a Sri Lankan Parliamentary delegation visiting New Delhi for a capacity-building program at India’s Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE).

In a post on ‘X’, Minister Jaishankar appreciated the Sri Lankan delegation’s condemnation of terrorism and expressions of sympathy on the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

“Discussed our Neighbourhood First policy, underpinned by strong people-to-people ties. Reiterated our commitment to Sri Lanka’s development and progress,” Minister Jaishankar added.

The inaugural batch of 24 Sri Lankan participants, including Parliamentarians, left for India last week for the Capacity-Building Program in New Delhi. 

The delegation led by Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, consisting of 20 Members of Parliament representing various political parties and 4 officials of the Sri Lankan Parliament, including the Secretary General. 

Spanning across a week from 26-30 May 2025, the programme will include components of sharing best practices across legislative and budgetary processes, the system of Parliamentary Committees and other related matters between the two democracies. (Newswire)

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The 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 05-09 April 2025, bringing together Parliamentarians from across the globe to discuss key issues impacting international relations, social development, and governance. 

The Sri Lankan delegation, led by Speaker of the Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne, actively participated in the Assembly’s sessions, contributing to global discussions on critical issues facing the world today. 

According to a Parliament statement, this platform provides a unique opportunity for delegates to exchange ideas and formulate actions to address some of the most pressing global challenges.

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, also addressed the Assembly, marking a significant moment in the proceedings and reaffirming the importance of high-level engagement in inter-parliamentary dialogue.

The Assembly has been convened with the overarching theme of Parliamentary Action for Social Development. Sri Lanka’s Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne addressed the General Debate on 06 April 2025, emphasizing the progressive reforms underway in Sri Lanka. In his speech, he outlined the government’s commitment to enhancing social protection, improving public health, modernizing free education, fostering gender inclusivity, and strengthening governance. Furthermore, he stressed the Parliament’s strict policy of zero tolerance for corruption, as highlighted in the recently approved 2025 Budget. Speaker Wickramaratne underscored that these efforts are pivotal to the country’s social development and justice goals.

Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media, Hansaka Wijemuni, participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, where he delivered remarks on the crucial topic, “The Role of Parliaments in Advancing a Two-State Solution in Palestine”. His speech contributed to ongoing deliberations on peace, security, and the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Member of Parliament, Anushka Thilakarathne, represented Sri Lanka at the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and Forum of Young Parliamentarians, and actively participated in the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development. She addressed the critical theme, “Parliamentary Strategies to Mitigate the Long-Lasting Impact of Conflict, Including Armed Conflict, on Sustainable Development”, highlighting Sri Lanka’s experiences and policies aimed at promoting long-term peace and stability in post-conflict societies.

On April 7, 2025, Member of Parliament, J. C. Alawathuwala, addressed the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights under the theme Recognizing and Supporting the Victims of Illegal International Adoption and Taking Measures to Prevent this Practice. His intervention contributed to global efforts in advocating for the rights of vulnerable children and ensuring that the international adoption system remains ethical and transparent.

Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, participated in the meetings of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliament (ASGP), where she made a presentation on Accessibility of Parliament for Disabled People. Her presentation focused on the need for accessibility to committees and parliamentary proceedings in the House, specifically from a Sri Lankan perspective, and highlighted the steps Sri Lanka is taking to ensure inclusivity and equal participation for all citizens, regardless of disability.

The 150th IPU Assembly provided a vibrant platform for dialogue on a wide range of global issues, and the Sri Lankan delegation played an active role in shaping discussions on peace, security, human rights, and sustainable development. The event concluded on 09 April 2025, with the Governing Council Meeting. (Newswire)

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