Likelihood of new MPs receiving an opportunity to visit Norway

There is a likelihood of members of the 9th Parliament receiving an opportunity to visit Norway, according to a statement issued by the Norwegian embassy following Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trine Jøranli Eskedal meeting Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena at the Parliament yesterday morning. 

 She congratulated Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on being elected the Speaker of the 9th parliament and they discussed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy.

 The embassy said: “Ambassador Eskedal and the Speaker also exchanged views on potential exchanges between parliamentarians in future. The Norwegian envoy pointed out that previously as part of a programme by the Oslo Centre, a group of Sri Lankan MPs visited the Norwegian Parliament and met representatives from various political parties, with the aim of identifying valuable and parallel lessons from the Norwegian context in consensus and coalition building. 

 She underscored the importance to learn from practical experiences of various countries and to get exposure to addressing challenges faced in different parliaments, and expressed Norway’s willingness to share learnings from their parliamentary experience. They also discussed about economic development, the maritime sector, female representation in parliament, and ways to further the bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and Norway.

 Deputy Head of Mission of the Norwegian Embassy Ms. Hilde Berg-Hansen, Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayaka and other senior officials of the Parliament were also present at the meeting.