Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the recent clashes between Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims in that country.

I am deeply concerned by the current inter-communal violence in Sri Lanka, and wrote to Foreign Minister Marapana on 7 March setting out my views. We support the government's avowed determination to end it swiftly, using measures that are proportionate and respect human rights, and urge it to hold the perpetrators to account. It is vital that all leaders in Sri Lanka condemn violence and hate, and make every effort to promote harmony.