Visiting New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully had bilateral discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart on Wednesday, ahead of the Commonwealth summit, said the External Affairs Ministry.

McCully and Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris discussed the arrangements being made by Sri Lanka to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo in November this year, and the preparations for the three accompanying events of the Business Forum, the Youth Forum and the People's Forum, said the ministry.

Dairy development was a subject discussed by the ministers, as New Zealand has provided assistance for dairy development and has worked closely with the Ministry of Livestock Development. Peiris suggested a formal bilateral assistance program in this field. A New Zealand company is already active, and has provided employment to many families through dairy production.

Co-operation in the fields of education, investment, tourism and control of illegal migration were also discussed by the two ministers.

The Sri Lankan visit comes amidst concerns being raised about Sri Lanka hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already indicated he might boycott the summit while Britain has raised serious concerns.

Human rights concerns over Sri Lanka stem from the final stages of the war between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the military which led to the defeat of the rebels in may 2009.

A UN panel had claimed that nearly 40,000 civilians were killed during the final battle, a figure the Sri Lankan government denies. Endi

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