Feb 16, Colombo: Visiting British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dr. Kim Howells who left Sri Lanka this morning at the end of a two day visit, said that ‘the international community needs to be reassured that the Government of Sri Lanka is committed to a peaceful solution.’

“For a peaceful resolution to be reached, both sides of the conflict need to realise this; and be willing to address the fundamental issues. It is our hope that this will happen in Sri Lanka,” Howells said in a statement.

He also said that during his visit, he had heard at first hand the stories of child abduction, disappearances, and other human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, which are all too familiar in the international press. “The world needs to see that the Sri Lankan Government is taking robust action to safeguard the human rights of all people in Sri Lanka,” Howells said.

“The British Government will do what it can to help Sri Lanka to end this tragic conflict. But I hope too that all the parties in Sri Lanka will work tirelessly to enhance dialogue, stop the violence and human rights abuses, and put Sri Lanka on the path to peace and prosperity,” he added.

He visited the conflict - and tsunami - affected Ampara district on 14 February and met community leaders, representatives of the Special Task Force and NGOs. He also visited an IDP camp in the coastal town of Karitivu and saw a British government funded project, which brings children from all ethnic communities together through art.

During his stay here he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, the Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights and representatives of opposition political parties.