Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya concluded a successful official visit to the United Kingdom from 18 to 22 May 2026. The visit was undertaken to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 and to advance bilateral, academic, and community engagement.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister commenced her programme with academic engagements at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, where she addressed the 60th anniversary celebration. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister reflected on the relationship between politics, governance, and development, drawing from Sri Lanka\u2019s recent political and economic experiences. She emphasized the challenges of balancing governance, economic recovery, social protection, and institutional reform while responding to public expectations and maintaining democratic accountability.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister subsequently delivered the 2026 Annual Lecture at the St Antony\u2019s College, University of Oxford, organized by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA). Addressing the audience comprising students, academics, and researchers from across the University of Oxford, the Prime Minister reflected on the intersections of development, governance, and politics in Sri Lanka while discussing the broader realities faced by the country attempting to achieve meaningful social and economic reform. During her visit to Oxford, she also engaged with scholars and Sri Lankan fellows of the Chevening CRISP programme.<\/p>\n
During the visit, Prime Minister Amarasuriya held bilateral discussions with\u00a0 Ms Yvette Cooper Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom. During the discussions, Prime Minister Amarasuriya conveyed Sri Lanka\u2019s appreciation for the United Kingdom\u2019s support following Cyclone Ditwah, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance, and commended the UK\u2019s continued efforts to facilitate increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka. She also briefed the UK side on Sri Lanka\u2019s economic developments and policy priorities, reaffirming the Government\u2019s commitment to human rights, reconciliation, and the country\u2019s positive growth trajectory. Both sides exchanged views on global geopolitical developments, energy challenges, and regional connectivity, and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.<\/p>\n
At a discussion with Ms Bridget Phillipson, UK Secretary of State for Education Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasized the importance of sustaining meaningful institutional partnerships, enhancing quality assurance in higher education, and expanding opportunities for students and educators. Both sides reaffirmed the long-standing and historic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom in education and expressed interest in further deepening collaboration in student mobility, joint programmes, and research.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister also met with academic experts from the British Council at the High Commission in London to discuss strengthening cooperation in education. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills. The meeting also addressed ways to improve quality assurance, expand research collaboration, and enhance learning opportunities for students and educators.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister attended the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 from 21 to 22 May 2026. She met with\u00a0 Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where discussions focused on strengthening cooperation within the Commonwealth framework, including climate change, climate finance, democratic governance, and women\u2019s political participation. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the Commonwealth\u2019s readiness to continue supporting Sri Lanka through technical assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and collaboration in areas including climate finance and electoral governance.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Amarasuriya visited the London Buddhist Vihara ahead of its upcoming centenary celebrations, where she met with the Most Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain and Head of the London Buddhist Vihara and discussed the preparations for the celebrations and the Vihara\u2019s longstanding contribution to the Sri Lankan community. She subsequently engaged with members of the Sri Lankan community at a separate community event.<\/p>\n
Concluding her successful official visit to the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya arrived in Sri Lanka on Satueday morning via Bandaranaike International Airport.<\/p>\n
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