CPA for vibrant Parliamentary democracy - Haselhurst

Rasika Somaratne and Sandasen Marasinghe

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is supportive to uphold vibrant Parliamentary democracy in Commonwealth countries and Sri Lanka’s coming forward to host the 58th conference is viewed as a progressive step, said chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee and Parliamentarian of House of Commons, UK Alan Haselhurst.

In an interview with the Daily News at the Hilton Hotel yesterday Haselhurst said the CPA was grateful that Sri Lanka showed its willingness to host the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations Conference 2012. He added that not all Commonwealth countries are in a position to host an event of this magnitude. He also said he was impressed by the arrangements made and CPA staff were comfortably accommodated.

He added the aim of the conference was to bring elected representatives of Commonwealth countries together annually and discuss the relevant topics. This organization is divided into 9 regions.

The special feature of the CPA is that it is not only 54 nation states, but, also comparsion subsidiary branches of small states, islands in the Carribean, minor jurisdictions in the Pacific and some other islands in UK.

Haselhurst said some countries in the Commonwealth have low representations of women in Parliament. So they are encouraged by these conferences.

He said this was his second visit to Sri Lanka and during his first visit last February, he witnessed the progress that Sri Lanka had made and the reconstruction that took place in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. He visited Galle on his first visit to Sri Lanka and plans to visit Kandy this time.