Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference ends on successful note:

Bouquets from CPC delegates

Rasika SOMARATHNA and Sandasen MARASINGHE

The 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) ended on a successful note in Colombo yesterday. Here are some of the parting words expressed by dignitaries who were part of the 58th CPC on the arrangements and efforts taken by Sri Lanka to host the event.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said the 58th CPC in Colombo laid the foundation for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in November 2013.

"The 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference was held in a very successful manner. The response from the participating delegates has been very encouraging.

The Parliamentary staff and several ministries joined in organising the event and they worked tirelessly and with commitment. This was also an opportunity to promote the country and show the world the progress achieved since the end of conflict. The responses from delegates in this regard too have been very positive. The Conference laid the foundation for Heads of Government meeting slated to be held next year."

Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar said: "It was an excellently organised conference. Each and every delegate was personally looked after. Sri Lanka has tremendous capacity in organising international conferences and events."

She commended the role played by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the Organising Committee and hailed the event as a success.

The two Speakers from India and Sri Lanka met for a bilateral discussion at the BMICH on the sidelines of the conference yesterday.

British Isles Isle of Man Government Treasury Member Phil Braidwood said the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference was a great success.

"The Small Branches Conference and the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians' Conference were remarkably successful for us. The plenary conferences and workshops were beneficial.

"We enjoyed the country. This is my third plenary Conference. The Conference went extremely well. We were well catered for and all staff worked magnificently.

"This is my first visit to your country. It's a wonderful country. My wife and I stayed 10 days in this beautiful country."

Guernsey in English Channel Social Security of States Minister Allister Langlois said this was his first visit to Sri Lanka and hoped to visit the island again.

"In my view, the Conference has been very successful. It's a wonderful thing for so many different nations to get together. We can all learn from each other as we have lot in common.

"This is my first visit and it has been wonderful. The people have been very friendly. We met lots of people. It is a very beautiful country. I have participated in many CPA conferences and this one has been very well organised."

Speaker of Panjab Assembly, Pakistan, Rana M Iqbal Khan said Sri Lanka has made rapid progress.

"The people in Sri Lanka, the government, CPA officials and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa have taken a great effort to organise this event successfully.

"The government, it seems has taken a keen interest to uplift education and health, promote the younger generation, nation building and in many other areas. This event will benefit Sri Lanka. The Conference has been very well organised."