To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Sri Lanka on access of aid agencies to refugee camps in that country. (287380)

In addition to the recent representations outlined by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Department for International Development (Mr. Michael Foster) in his reply of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 32W, we continue to raise the issue of access to the camps with the Government of Sri Lanka and have urged them to work in partnership with the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies to address the ongoing needs of internally displaced persons (IDP).

My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, also released a statement on 9 July 2009 urging the Government of Sri Lanka to continue its dialogue with the Red Cross in relation to the civilians in IDP camps. A copy of the statement can be found here:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view= PressS&id=20551605