Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with President Maithripala Sirisena last evening and expressed his support for the government, promising to help Sri Lanka improve on its international stature.

Blair called on the President at his office in Colombo and commended the government on holding a peaceful election on August 17. He also added that Sri Lanka has huge potential in developing the tourism sector.

Blair is in Sri Lanka on a private tour with his wife Cherry and two of his children. They accompanied the former Prime Minister in his meeting with President Sirisena.

Tony Blair was a British MP from 1983 to 2007 and served as the Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007.