‘Friends of Sri Lanka Group’ re-launched | Daily News

‘Friends of Sri Lanka Group’ re-launched

Friends of Sri Lanka Group members at the re-launch.
Friends of Sri Lanka Group members at the re-launch.

The ‘Friends of Sri Lanka Group’ was re-launched by the newly elected European Parliament in Strasbourg on July 17.

Group Chairman Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP, British Conservative, who founded the Friends Group in 2006, made the opening remarks. Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka Grace Asirwatham, who recently assumed duties in Brussels, was welcomed by the Members of Friends Group.

Eleven MEPs from eight European countries of five Political Groups represented in the present Parliament, Political Advisers of the Groups and officers of the Sri Lanka Embassy, Brussels participated.

Ambassador Asirwatham briefed the Friends Group on the political situation in Sri Lanka, the follow-up to the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, and on recent developments in EU-Sri Lanka relations. She described the constitutional reform process and the steps taken to bring about reconciliation following the defeat of the LTTE, the need to encourage more tourism from Europe and the benefits of the GSP+ facility, which helps enhance EU–Sri Lanka trade and contributes to Sri Lanka’s economic development. The Friends of Sri Lanka Group will meet again in September after the summer recess to continue their support for Sri Lanka in the European Parliament.


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