Opposition Leader Meets UK Deputy Prime Minister

20-Feb-2026

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in Colombo on 17 February, discussing the need for accountability and transparency in Sri Lanka.

Key topics included trade, legal reforms and disaster recovery. Premadasa welcomed the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, under which 92% of Sri Lankan goods can enter the UK market duty-free from January 2026.

He emphasized the need for proposed counter-terrorism and online safety laws to meet international standards and 

not undermine democratic rights. He also thanked the UK for humanitarian assistance following Cyclone Ditwah and discussed cooperation to address human–elephant conflict in Sri Lanka.