The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) of the United States Congress welcomed members of parliament of four HDP partner countries, including Sri Lanka to an exchange programme in the second week of June.A bipartisan group of members of Sri Lankan Parliament comprising State Minister of Agriculture Wasantha Aluwihare, Deputy Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment Anuradha Jayaratne, Keheliya Rambukwella, Buddhika Pathirana and Eswarapatham Saravanapavan participated in this programme.
The exchange programme allowed the members of parliament to share lessons and experiences with their peers on the parliament’s role and interacted with U.S. members of congress, congressional staff and U.S. experts on matters such as improving citizen security, social inclusion, peacebuilding, reconciliation and stimulating economic growth in post conflict societies.
The Sri Lanka Parliament and the House Democracy Partnership of the U.S. House of Representatives entered into a Collaboration Agreement to strengthen partnership between the two legislatures last September. Collaboration between the two legislatures is based on the principles of facilitating the exchange of information on the legislative systems of each country, sharing knowledge, and offering consultations on effective legislative management; and cooperating and assisting each other through training programs for the members and staff of the legislatures.
HDP's work is supported by Washington-based partner organizations - the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, International Republican Institute, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
During their stay in Washington the parliamentarians also visited the Embassy.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington D.C.
