To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on (a) relations between majority and minority communities and (b) the safety of Muslims in that country.
Answered on
12 March 2018
​During my visit to Sri Lanka in October I discussed inter-community relations with the Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Speaker, and the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance. Our High Commission also regularly raise specific concerns, including a series of attacks against Muslim and other minority communities over the last year, with the government, civil society and religious leaders.
From 10 November to 10 December the High Commission ran a social media campaign on Freedom of Religion and Belief. We are also supporting a multi-year Conflict Stability and Security Fund programme to promote inter-faith & inter-communal dialogue and dispute resolution at local level in eastern Sri Lanka, one of the most diverse regions.