The seminar will take place from 1 to 3 February in Colombo. Members of parliament, ministers, and human rights experts will attend from Sri Lanka and other Commonwealth Asia countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Maldives.
The 3-day seminar from February 1-3 was convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), in collaboration with the CPA Sri Lanka Branch for Asia, India and South-East Asia Legislatures.
The welcome speech was delivered by the Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka Karu Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered the keynote address.
Mr.Sumedha Ekanayake, the Human Rights Advisor of the Commonwealth Secretariat and Mrs.Meenakshi Dhar, the Director of Programs of CPA also addressed the occasion.
Deputy speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, Chief Government Whip and Minister of Parliament Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathileke, Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Foreign Employment Thalatha Athukorala, MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, MP Vijitha Herath and the General Secretary of the Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake also were present on this occasion.
The Asia regional seminar in Sri Lanka is the fourth in the series and seeks commitment to a practical set of actions set out in a declaration as well as support for the establishment of a regional network of parliamentarians dedicated to implementing the declaration.
