BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MEETS SRI LANKAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Today, the Foreign Secretary, (Foreign Minister) Margaret Beckett MP, met with the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama. Following the meeting the Foreign Secretary said:

"This was a very constructive meeting. We discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues. I reiterated to Minister Bogollagama the UK's commitment to peace in Sri Lanka and our willingness to help the Sri Lankans find a peaceful solution to the current crisis.

"But the UK remains seriously concerned by the escalation in conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and the terrible humanitarian impact this has had on the civilian population of Sri Lanka. Recent incidents demonstrate that both sides need to do more to protect the civilian population. I stressed that there can be no military solution alone to the conflict. Violence comes with too high a price for all the people of Sri Lanka. I said that we were looking forward to the publication of proposals for a peace offer which meets the legitimate aspirations of all of Sri Lanka's ethnic groups.

"I also told Minister Bogollagama that the UK welcomes the government of Sri Lanka's decision to address human rights concerns through the establishment of a President's Commission and of the Eminent Person's Group. Human rights abuses do nothing but damage Sri Lanka's image in the eyes of the world. We look forward to maintaining a dialogue on human rights with the Government of Sri Lanka."