Third CPA Asia Regional Conference begins

The third Asian Region Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will be held in Colombo from February 10 to 16 hosted by Sri Lanka.

It will be attended by a large number of VIPs including Speakers, Ministers and Parliamentarians of countries in the Asian region including Bangladesh, Republic of Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The inaugural ceremony will be held at the Colombo Hilton under the patronage of Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.

The main topics discussed at this conference will include "Environmental Changes and Natural Disasters", "Poverty Alleviation" and "Mother and Child" said a press release issued by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Sri Lanka Branch.

The Executive Committee meeting will also be held on February 12 at which decisions will be taken regarding the agenda, program and policies to be implemented this year. Delegates attending the conference will later be conducted on a two day tour of Kandy and Sigiriya to provide them with an awareness of Sri Lanka's heritage.

Foreign delegates are due to leave Sri Lanka on February 16.