British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has concluded his second visit to Sri Lanka, the first Ministerial visit since the formation of a new government.

A press release by the UK government said that Swire met with president Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several other ministers including the Minister for Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Affairs D M Swaminathan. He welcomed the early commitments announced by the president.

He also met the new civilian Governor of the Northern Province H M G S Palihakkara, local politicians and members of civil society in Colombo, as well as visiting the Chief Minister Wigneswaran in Jaffna and seeing other parts of the Northern Province, including the Sabapathipillai welfare village, last visited by Prime Minister David Cameron in November 2013.

While in the Northern Province, Swire also visited the British Council and Muhamalai where British demining agency, the HALO Trust, is clearing land to make it liveable again. The UK has contributed over £5 million towards demining in Sri Lanka since 2009.

Swire said that during this visit he met a wide range of people and heard about the challenges that lie ahead.

He added that it is also heartening to see such a renewed desire to reconcile communities and seek a long-term peace for Sri Lanka. This will need to include the establishment of a long-term political settlement in the North, and credible processes for reconciliation and accountability to tackle the issues that remain following Sri Lanka’s long conflict, Swire said.

Furthermore, he expressed hope that the new Sri Lankan Government will work together with the international community at the UN Human Rights Council, and will co-operate with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ investigation into alleged war crimes during the final stage of the Sri Lankan conflict.