'Commonwealth Secretariat should have acted'
Disna MUDALIGE
The Commonwealth Secretariat should have taken some action on the
protest by a group of LTTE supporters which led to the cancellation of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's speech to the Commonwealth Economic Forum
since the LTTE is an organisation proscribed by the British government,
Mass Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya
Rambukwella said.
The minister was addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the
ministry premises yesterday. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa
who was invited by the British government was given star class treatment
with best ever protocols, logistics and security arrangements. He noted
that not only President Rajapaksa but four other speakers had to change
their agenda following the cancellation of the event.
He said the right to protest and as well as right to speak should
have been protected by the Commonwealth Secretariat which organized this
forum. He observed that UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella was concerned about
debating this incident in the Sri Lankan Parliament.
He should have rather made a request through the British High
Commissioner to raise this issue in the British Parliament.
The minister made these comments in response to a question by a
journalist. |
