Two Kenyan diplomats who are presently on a visit to the country yesterday chose to distance themselves from a group of six of their countrymen who are currently begging for food inside the Colombo Port.E. M. Barine, Deputy Head of the Kenyan Mission in New Delhi told the Sunday Times that he had no intention getting involved in the issue since it was before court and the matter should be settled there.
At present there is no Kenyan mission in Colombo and the embassy in Delhi is accredited to look after the interests in Sri Lanka.
A group of eight African fishermen - six Kenyans and two from Mozambique have remained in the Colombo Port premises since February this year after they were released by Somali pirates and their local handlers withdrew their food supply at the start of last month.
Since then, the group has taken the matter to the court demanding back wages if they are to leave for their country, and are refusing to budge otherwise.
“I have no intention on speaking to the Sri Lankan authorities regarding these fishermen since it is a matter that has gone before the local court and should be dealt accordingly. I have met with the local shipping agent and officials from the International Transport workers Federation (ITF) and heard out the case but apart from that there is very little we can do at this end,” Mr. Barine said.
Mr. Barine and the Mission’s Solicitor General Wanjubi Muchemi are currently in the country to attend the 50th Sessions of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) that was held from June 27 and ended on Friday. |
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