Article Posted on : - Jul 09, 2011

A file photo.

COLOMBO (PTI): British Defence Minister Liam Fox has arrived here on a visit amidst mounting pressure from the UK to investigate alleged war crimes committed during the last stages of the ethnic war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009.

Fox is here to deliver the annual Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture in memory of the Sri Lankan foreign minister who was assassinated by the LTTE.

He is scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and External Affairs Minister G L Peiris, officials said.

He is the first ever British defence minister to visit the country since Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain in 1948.