Australia and Lanka discuss human rights issue

Australia and Sri Lanka have had talks on several key issues, including on?reconciliation and human rights.

The issues were discussed at a meeting held between the Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ric Wells and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, the Australian High Commission in Colombo said.

Ric Wells led the Australian?delegation to inaugural Senior Officials? Talks with Sri Lanka in?Colombo this week.

Wells and his counterpart from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Additional?Secretary Ranjith Uyangoda, discussed opportunities in trade and investment,?development assistance, reconciliation and human rights, as well as people-to-people?links. Australia and Sri Lanka’s broader roles as Indo-Pacific neighbours were also?addressed.

?I was pleased to visit Colombo for these inaugural talks, which will enable us to build our?already strong relationship. This year, a major focus was on strengthening cooperation in?ways that build our economic relationship. Australia welcomes the Sri Lankan?government’s focus on economic growth and reform. Australia will also continue to?support Sri Lanka as it makes progress on national reconciliation,? Wells said.

?Clearly, now is a time of great optimism in Sri Lanka. As a long-time friend and partner,?we share this belief and see great potential for our relationship to grow in new and?dynamic ways,”?he added. (Colombo Gazette)