Parliamentary Delegation from Sri Lanka visit Parliament

On Tuesday 16 June 2026 a parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka visited the UK supported by the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. 

I was a panel speaker on the session on scrutiny of legislation. I explained our Public Bill Committees and how Select Committees can also look at pre-legislation scrutiny and the group explained about their unicameral parliament. Their President appoints the Prime Minister. 

I said it was important to hear different voices and this can be done if there is a Green paper or the White Paper before the final Bill is presented. We also spoke about how to strengthen our democracy and I explained about having an independent judiciary, a legislature and the executive all separate and holding each one to account. Transparency and accountability was important. When any decision is made, weighing the evidence and giving reasons for the decision is part of the process. The use of the Judicial review process allows matters in the public interest to be challenged.