The Canada-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group was reconstituted with 19 members in the Canadian Parliament following its Annual General Meeting held at the end of September 2010.

The group elected a new Committee for the year 2010-2011 with the Liberal Party MP Maria Minna as the Chair, the Conservative MP David Sweet and the New Democratic Party MP Joe Comartin as two Vice Chairs.  Six Directors were also elected to the Executive Committee.

High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara hosted a meeting at the official Residence to welcome the members of the Canada-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group. In her address to the Parliamentarians, the High Commissioner said that the reconstitution of the Canada-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group is an important milestone in fostering Canada-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.  She briefed the Members on the current situation in Sri Lanka with emphasis on the humanitarian, political and economic developments in the country.  A lively discussion continued during the dinner where the Parliamentarian as well as the Canadian Foreign Ministry officials discussed many issues on developments in Sri Lanka and Canada-Sri Lanka relations.

It was agreed that the Canada-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group is a useful forum to discuss issues of mutual interest.  The High Commissioner expressed her firm commitment to working closely with the group and to facilitate a mutually beneficial dialogue between Parliamentarians in the two countries.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa, Canada

 28/10/2010