[2012-04-04
16:48:10]
Rt.
Hon. Michael Morris, the Lord Naseby – PC, Barron of Sandy and
co – chair of the all party parliamentary group on Sri Lanka in
the UK parliament who was on a brief visit to Jaffna called on
the Commander Security forces Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda
Hathurusinghe on Tuesday (03) at Palaly.
In the wake
of various detrimental interpretations being tabled in the West
against Sri Lanka, Lord Naseby arrived in Jaffna to see the real
situation in the North as a special envoy of the UK parliament.
During the
meeting at the Headquarters SF-J, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe briefed
him on accelerated development projects in effect in post-conflict
Jaffna and Army’s involvement in those government-augmented massive
development projects. Lord Naseby and the retinue were impressed
about livelihood programmes initiated by the Army for reintegrated
ex-LTTE combatants at different parts of the peninsula and healthy
relationship being maintained between the Army and civil society
during reconciliation process.
He appreciated
Army’s welfare programmes aimed at improving educational, cultural,
economical and social standard of Jaffna community. Lord Naseby,
Lady Naseby and other officials in the delegation met Bishop of
Jaffna Most Rev. Fr. Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, Governor Northern
Province Major General (Retd) G.A.Chandrasiri and Government Agent
Jaffna Mrs. Emelda Sukuar.
The Lord Naseby has been a friend of Sri Lanka over 45 years.
Prior to entering active politics on late 1960s, he was serving
as the head of a British private company in Sri Lanka.
First elected
to the UK House of Commons as in 1966, Lord Naseby held key appointments
and ministerial portfolios in the UK Parliament until he retired
from active politics in 1997.
He was the
founder of the Sri Lanka friendship group in the UK Parliament
referred to as the all party parliamentary group on Sri Lanka
and has been functioning as its chairmen since its establishment
in 1984. He was instrumental in executing key infrastructure projects
for Sri Lanka including the Victoria dam project during the conservative
Party governments of Prime Minister Thatcher and John Major.
In 2004 he
was conferred the national honorary title of “Sri Lanka Rathna”
by the President of Sri Lanka for his distinguished services to
our country.
