British Minister hands over NI peace deal sketch

COLOMBO: The British Minister of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who was here carrying a special message from British Prime Minister Tony Blair to President Mahinda Rajapaksa also handed over a sketch of the historic Northern Ireland Peace Accord to the President when he met him at Temple Trees on Monday evening.

The President in return handed over a letter to Blair, explaining in detail the procedure adopted in dealing with the complaints relating to abductions of persons, the Presidential Secretariat said.

In the letter the British Premier is said to have expressed concern over reports of human rights cases while reiterating continued support for the Government in its quest for peace.

The Northern Ireland peace deal was the most recent success story in the history of peace making, which put an end to a nearly 40 year old sectarian conflict between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and British High Commissioner Dominic Chilcott were present on the occasion.