Sri Lanka to host Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference

Saturday, 18 February 2012 02:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka will hold the 58th annual conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from 7 to 15 September in Colombo with the participation of over 1,000 officials representing 190 organisations from 54 countries, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody has said.

Chairman of CPA Executive Committee Sir Alan Haselhurst and Secretary-General of the CPA Dr. William Shija held discussions on Wednesday (15) with Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. Speaker Rajapaksa, who led the Sri Lankan delegation to last year’s session in London, was conferred the presidency of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at the 57th session.

During a press briefing Sir Haselhurst has said that the participating representatives would be able to get firsthand information about Sri Lanka during the conference and the conference is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to showcase its cause to the global community.

Colombo has hosted the CPA Conference twice before in 1974 and 1995. The CPA is an Association of Commonwealth Parliamentarians aiming to promote good governance, democracy and protection of human rights in member countries.

(Colombo Page)