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Establishment of all party parliamentary group for COSMOS UK (APPG – COSMOS) – Annual general meeting

We wish to inform that APPG – Cosmos UK AGM was successfully concluded on 03.03.2020 to Re-establish the group at Room C,House of Commons, 1 Parliament Street -Westminster under Chairman of APPG Cosmos, Mr. Bob Blackman -Harrow East MP and was attended by a cross section of MPs and Peers of the House of Lords. Further, three more MP’s joined and extended support to APPG – Cosmos at this AGM. 

The Elected Office Bearers at this AGM were: 

  • Hon. Bob Blackman – Chairman 
  • The Rt. Hon. the Lord Naseby -Vice Chair
  • Hon Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi -MP – Officer
  • Hon Gareth Thomas – MP – Officer
  • Hon Siobhain McDonagh – MP – Officer

Other Members of APPG – Cosmos

  • Rt. Hon Baroness Warsi
  • Hon Matt Rodda
  • Hon Afzal Khan
  • Hon Wes Streeting
  • Hon. Claudia Webbe
  • Hon Elliot Colburn

Mr. Liyas Abdul Wahid – President of Cosmos UK addressing the AGM stated “The purpose of this APPG is, to support, and take up issues raised by COSMOS, relating to Sri Lankan Muslim issues, towards protecting their rights, and promoting peaceful co-existence, in the context of the goodwill prevailing between the two countries, thereby, ushering in, a strong relationship between the two peoples of both countries United Kingdom and Sri Lanka”

The Chairman of APPG – Cosmos UK Mr. Bob Blackman provided a brief history of APPG Cosmos and it’s past activities since its inception almost 20 months ago and thanked the Cosmos UK members’ active participation and contribution in this formation.Further Members discussed and explored effective roles that APPG – Cosmos can play in the near future for the benefit of Sri Lankan Muslims here in UK and Sri Lanka. The following were discussed at this AGM

  1. Requesting for a Debate in the British Parliament by APPG – Cosmos members to discuss the minority Sri Lankan Muslims ongoing issues and protecting the minority rights for Sri Lankan Muslims.
  2. Organising an Ifthar (Breaking Fast during Ramadan) during Ramadan at House of Commons by 2nd week of May 2020 and inviting all APPG Cosmos members, MP’s,Peers, Diplomats, Community Leaders, Other faith leaders and Cosmos Affiliate Organisation members. This would be an excellent opportunity for Cosmos UK to highlight the Cosmos UK activities to other MP’s and Peers and use the opportunity and encourage them to support or join APPG – Cosmos. Mr. Bob Blackman agreed to this request and his Secretariat office is to arrange and confirm on this programme soon with House of Commons office.
  3. Arranging a delegation of British MP’s to visit Sri Lanka along with Cosmos UK members and meet Sri Lankan Leaders and Parliamentarians.
  4. Arranging to meet and discuss Sri Lankan Muslims concerns and issues with Lord Ahmed who is the Minister of State (Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth) and UN at House of Lords chamber soon.
  5. Arranging a meeting with the new High Commissioner of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to UK,Her Excellency Saroja Sirisena to address the APPG Cosmos members and Cosmos UK members at House of Commons.
  6. Mr. Bob Blackman also informed that he would join hands with Mr. Gareth Thomas -MP for Harrow West in addressing the proposed parking only for Resident Permit Holders near SLMCC center and the inconvenience which will cause to the center users if this proposal approved by Harrow Council.
Mr. Shakeer Nawas -General Secretary of Cosmos UK thanked and appreciated Mr. Bob Blackman and his Secretariat staffsfor their continued support in running this APPG -Cosmos and thanked all MP’s, Peers and Cosmos affiliate members who attended this AGM.This meeting was a very productive and constructive meeting where MP’s, Peers and Cosmos members had a full engagement and discussion to foster a strong bonding with the APPG -Cosmos members and a deeper understanding of Sri Lankan Muslims quandaries.
M Shakeer Nawas
General Secretary – Cosmos UK. 
[email protected]