Bogollagama meets British MP of Lankan descent

Text and Pic By Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London, Rohitha Bogollagama, last week met British parliamentarian Ranil Jayawardene, who is of Lankan descent in the House of Commons,

Jayawardane, a former Parliamentary Under-Secretary for International Trade (May 2020 to September 2022) and Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (September 6 to October 25, 2022), underscored the potential impact of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the United Kingdom on Sri Lanka’s development efforts.

He praised the constructive approach adopted by the Government of Sri Lanka in the reconstruction efforts in the North and East, highlighting a noteworthy shift in the stance of the United Kingdom Government on Sri Lanka since the immediate post-conflict period.

The conversation included topics such as constitutional amendments and governance in Sri Lanka. Bogollagama briefed Jayawardane on the evolution of the Sri Lankan Constitution amid the changing political landscape and the government’s strategies to devolve power to the periphery.

The dialogue included matters of economic cooperation, with the high commissioner and British MP exchanging views on enhancing UK–Sri Lanka economic relations. The discussions also touched upon supporting the expansion of clean energy initiatives in Sri Lanka and bolstering air connectivity between the two nations.