Last Monday evening, London's Met Office issued severe weather warnings. Mostly cloudy, temperatures had hit near zero. Many couldn't go to work; some were trapped in trains for hours because the tracks were covered with snow and ice. The city's Mayor Boris Johnson was in Zurich trying to win the FIFA World Cup football bid assuring Londoners there was enough salt to clear the mush-like slippery streets.
That night, a delayed SriLankan Airlines flight UL 509 from Colombo had just touched down at the Heathrow Airport. Air Traffic Controllers cleared Captain Prasanna Karunatilleke, who was in command, to taxi to Terminal 4, which deals with long haul flights for airlines like SriLankan. As the Airbus A-340 rolled, with a VVIP entourage on board, none was aware that a chilly reception awaited them in more ways than one.
The reason -- a few hundred pro-Eelam supporters of the now defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had crowded the arrival lounge at Terminal 4. Others had braved freezing temperatures to remain outside waving placards and shouting slogans. Many of them carried the red and gold LTTE flag with its emblem.
The placards accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of being a "war criminal". Some called for his arrest. They shouted highly inflammatory slogans. The Sri Lankan government lost no time in charging that the organisers were "the rump of the LTTE still functioning in the United Kingdom and claiming to be a Tamil Diaspora."
The official government website news.lk declared later, "The inability to take necessary action against the highly bloated threats from such groups is not what is expected from a country where modern policing began with Sir Robert Peel and his Bobbies, is the home of Scotland Yard, and boasts of a special Anti-Terrorism Laws and institutions."
As the seconds passed by on Monday night, the demonstrators were becoming a knotty issue. Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Nihal Jayasinghe, his senior officials and the Police were worried how they would ensure the safe exit of President Rajapaksa to his hotel, the five-star Dorchester located in the heart of London's Mayfair on Park Lane. Some of those in the entourage were booked at the four-star Lancaster Hotel at Hyde Park.
The troubled-beginning
President Rajapaksa and an entourage of more than 40 were arriving in London for a much-publicised and talked of event -- an address to the Oxford Union on Thursday, December 2. The entourage included Army and Presidential Security Division personnel for security. Originally arranged for a date in early November this year, the address was re-scheduled for December 3 as the President was too busy. External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake were among those who accompanied him. A third minister, Douglas Devananda, could not join because the British High Commission in Colombo had refused him a visa. He is on their blacklist. Most others received their British entry permit (visa) as much as three hours late forcing a delayed departure of UL 509. This was an early indicator of what was in store. It was then a case of rushing from the High Commission to the Bandaranaike International Airport for the flight.
"President Rajapaksa was the first Head of State of Sri Lanka and the first Sri Lankan statesman who was not previously a member (sic) or held office in the Oxford Union to address it as a guest speaker," said a background note from the Policy Research and Information Unit (PRIU) of the Presidential Secretariat. The material was part of a pre-event campaign. It said he is also the only Sri Lankan invited to address for the second time. If official reports termed this a "rare honour," senior Sri Lankan diplomats differed.
They said no heads of state in the past heeded requests for an appearance a second time.
The PRIU background note said, "Sri Lanka's renowned politicians and statesmen such as former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, have previously addressed the Oxford Union. Late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali was the first Sri Lankan to be elected as the President of the Oxford Union in 1958.
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| President Mahinda Rajapaksa on arrival in Sri Lanka on Friday.
Pic by Gemunu Wellage |
"Former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was the Secretary of the Oxford Union in 1923 and former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was also elected to serve as President of the Oxford Union in 1959. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga too was among the distinguished Sri Lankans who addressed the Oxford Union. In 2008, President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed the Oxford Union at the invitation of the Oxford Union and the Sri Lanka Society of Oxford University. The topic of his address was "Strategy towards Empowering the Rural Economy of Sri Lanka".
Evidently, the PRIU was unaware that Sri Lankans of many walks of life have periodically addressed the Oxford Union. In 2009, one time Sri Lanka cricket captain and now DNA (Kalutara District) Parliamentarian told the Sunday Times he had spoken at the invitation of the Sri Lanka Society. Another to address the same union in February this year was one of Sri Lanka's foremost bankers and one time CEO/Managing Director of the Hatton National Bank, Rienzie Wijetilleke. He told the Sunday Times he spoke on The Global Economy and its effects on Asian countries. Wijetilleke said others who took part in the same event were Otara Gunawardena, proprietor of Odel, her brother Ajit Gunawardene, deputy chairman of John Keells, and Dhammika Perera, casino owner and a one time Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.
For President Rajapaksa's planned address, the stage was set with advanced publicity in Colombo backed in Britain by Bell Pottinger, a London public relations cum lobbying firm hired for this purpose and paid more than a million Sterling Pounds every year. It seemed a tragic irony that External Affairs Minister Peiris and his Ministry which is responsible for the conduct of Sri Lanka's foreign policy were unaware of what was going on in London.
It was barely two weeks ago, he told Parliament that his Nepali counterpart, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, had invited Rajapaksa, to mediate in the Himalayan nation's internal political crisis. The Nepali President's official spokesperson Rajendra Dahal called it a "baseless claim." A Nepal Embassy spokesperson in Colombo added, "no request has been made for the intervention of the Sri Lankan President." Peiris was to tell some western diplomats before his departure to London that a leading Asian country had urged the Nepali government to issue a denial even though his assertions were true. A senior diplomat of the country accused, when confronted by a western colleague, was to remark "if that is how they conduct foreign relations, woe be unto them. Why should we get anyone to deny. We did not do that when Sri Lanka tried to mediate in the Maldives." Whatever happened, there was no comeback from Peiris that what he told Parliament was in fact so.
When President Rajapaksa made plans to travel to London in early November, the Sri Lanka High Commission warned of preparations by Tamil expatriate groups to stage protests. External Affairs Ministry sources said the warnings appeared to have been downplayed. Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva, Kshenuka Seneviratne (a former High Commissioner in Britain), was ordered to be in London to assist after having given evidence in the 'white flag' trial at bar in the High Court against former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka following the warning, an indication that the danger signals were not correctly read and those who sounded alarm bells were laid by. The Sri Lankan Mission in London was naturally displeased not so much that its advice was over-ruled but someone serving in a different station was dispatched to overlook Presidential arrangements. It was a case of two heads of missions working in a station where only one was officially posted.
The Oxford Union had been deluged with e-mails and telephone calls not to entertain Rajapaksa. Local intelligence agencies too had warned of the preparations and called for a re-think of the visit or ensure heavily enhanced security measures.
Maveerar Day
Last Monday, pro LTTE groups in Britain had observed "Maveerar" (or Great Heroes) day. This was a week-long event marked until the guerrillas were militarily defeated in May last year. It culminates with the birthday of their late leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran on November 27. During the events this year where emotions ran high, the impending visit of President Rajapaksa to address the Oxford Union was the talking point. At one event in London, one of the organisers told a gathering that he was awaiting news from Colombo and all of them would be informed.
It is in this backdrop that an SMS message began to circulate at 5 p.m. on Monday November 29, important enough, almost five hours ahead of President Rajapaksa's arrival in London. It was sent to pro-LTTE groups and copied to sections of the media. This is what the message said: Urgent protest at London Heathrow Terminal 4 tonight 10 p.m. Mahintha (sic) landing tonight. Spread quickly." The SMS message was re-sent to others by those who received them. Crowds were collected.
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| The pro-LTTE groups protest in London as the British police look on. |
The protestors prevented a safe exit for Rajapaksa and his entourage. Police had to seek alternate routes to take them to the Dorchester. On Tuesday, Rajapaksa had a meeting with Dr. Liam Fox, the British Defence Minister. The spokesperson for the latter said Fox, who has an abiding interest in Sri Lankan matters, was meeting Rajapaksa in his private capacity. That was the first opportunity for the Presidential media unit to deliver photos to the media. The arrival photos, a regular feature when Rajapaksa set foot on foreign soil, were absent.
Lucian Rajakarunanayake, Presidential spokesperson, said in a statement: "An estimated 300 plus Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates and their supporters in the UK were gathered in a demonstration at the Arrivals Point at London's Heathrow Airport, UK on Monday night to protest the arrival of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who came to the UK on a special visit to address the Oxford Union, and also hold discussions with political leaders. They failed in their attempt to make a show of their opposition to President Rajapaksa, not knowing that important visitors such as Heads of State and their delegations do not use the normal passenger Arrivals Point. They stayed shouting anti-Sri Lankan, anti-Mahinda Rajapaksa and pro-LTTE slogans and displaying pro-LTTE banners for several hours before and after the arrival of the flight with the President around 10 pm on Monday night, which they failed to meet…."
On November 30 (Tuesday) night, the pro-LTTE groups were making preparations for another event. This is what a lengthy SMS message said, "Protest against war criminal Mahintha Rajapaksa. Transport arrangements from South West London, Tooting and Mitcham. From Halfords, Stratham Road, Croydon from London Road (near Bestfood). Private from Tolworth from the Broadway, Tolwarth, New Malden from Burlington Road all coaches leave at 2 p.m." Another SMS message had identified four different places where crowds were to gather to stage protests outside the Dorchester Hotel.
The demonstrators had gathered with placards and LTTE flags outside the hotel. Sri Lankan High Commission officials, reports said, were in consultation with those at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) over enhanced security arrangements. At first, FCO had argued that since the visit was "private," the Government of Sri Lanka would have to pay for stepped up security. However, later it had been agreed that "appropriate diplomatic protection" would be given. Police squad cars were positioned outside the hotel. A posse of police officers were also placed outside.
On Tuesday morning, pro-LTTE groups who telephoned the Oxford Union were told the event was not going to take place. Media persons who rang them were advised that a statement would be posted on their website later in the day. Ahead of that, the BBC's Sinhala service Sandeshaya broke the story that the Oxford Union had cancelled President Rajapaksa's address on December 3. Pro-LTTE groups began placing calls to the Dorchester hotel switchboard and making anti-Rajapaksa remarks. Some wanted the hotel to urge their VVIP guest to leave.
In Colombo, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), which has an agreement with the BBC Sandeshaya to broadcast simultaneously their news bulletin, was to black out the news item. This agreement followed substantial payments to the BBC. Instead, they played Music. By Tuesday afternoon, it was official. The Oxford Union had decided to call off the event. This is what Alistair Walker, Its Media Officer said in the statement posted on the Union's website said;
"Earlier this year, The Oxford Union invited the current President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to address our members at a date convenient to him. The Union has a policy of inviting a broad range of prominent politicians and heads of state from around the world and the invitation to Mr. Rajapaksa was made within the context of this policy.
"Since the invitation was first accepted by Mr. Rajapaksa, the Union has consulted extensively with Thames Valley Police as well as the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on security arrangements for the President's visit. Due to security concerns surrounding Mr.Rajapaksa's visit which have recently been brought to our attention by the police, the Union has regretfully found that the talk is no longer practicable and has had to cancel his address.
"This decision was not taken lightly and the Union deeply regrets the cancellation. The Union has a long tradition of hosting prominent speakers and upholding the principles of free speech. However, due to the sheer scale of the expected protests, we do not feel that the talk can reasonably and safely go ahead as planned.
"The Union holds a politically neutral stance with regards to speakers and the decision was not made in relation to any aspect of Mr. Rajapaksa's political position, the policies of his administration or any allegations against his government. As the President of Sri Lanka for the last five years, the Union felt that Mr. Rajapaksa would provide a unique insight into the political climate of the region in his speech. The Union wishes to apologise to our members for this unfortunate cancellation."
Sovereign immunity
The news was to cause concern to President Rajapaksa and his entourage at the Dorchester Hotel. The pro-LTTE groups were not only engaging in protest demonstrations, both on arrival of the President as well as outside the hotel; they had now succeeded in having Rajapaksa's address to the Oxford Union cancelled. They also learnt that the group was to move to a Magistrate's Court seeking a warrant to arrest President Rajapaksa, a move that would have been difficult in view of the sovereign immunity he enjoyed. Sovereign immunity is now an internationally accepted judicial doctrine that prevents the government or its political subdivisions, departments, and agencies from being sued without its consent. The doctrine stemmed from the ancient English principle that the monarch can do no wrong.
If Rajapaksa was thus on strong ground, there were concerns about the military elements of his Sri Lankan security contingent. It became known that the warrant would also seek the arrest of some Army officers including Major General Chagi Gallage, head of the Presidential Security Division (for the Army). Maj. Gen. Gallage and some Army officers had accompanied the President besides S.M. Wickremesinghe, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police who is head of the Presidential Security Division (for the Police). Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials had explained that they had no control whatsoever over matters that could be initiated by a Magistrate's Court.
It has now come to light that papers had in fact been filed against Maj. Gen. Gallage and party in the Westminister Magistrate's Court located at 70 Horseferry Road, London. It is situated near the British House of Commons and access by underground is via St James Park on District or Circle line. A normal legal requirement that the matter needed two days for determination had delayed the process. Reports from London said, the group would go ahead with the application and await an order. This is despite those concerned returning to Sri Lanka on Friday.
It is almost a convention now to have public relations companies which the government hires to become part of not only diplomatic consultations but also news or "intelligence" gathering. A representative of Bell Pottinger was present at a meeting of a Tamil group in a football stadium in the borough of Harrow. This was when Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) leader, Wickremebahu Karunaratne, addressed them. Senior government officials, Sri Lanka Embassy stalwarts in London and those from Bell Pottinger deliberated an immediate response to the Oxford Union statement.
The outcome was a statement issued by Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. He said, "For security reasons the speech by His Excellency President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka at the Oxford Union, the home of free speech, has been cancelled. This is a decision that has been made unilaterally by the Oxford Union, reportedly as a result of pressure applied by pro-LTTE activists.
"His Excellency said: 'I am very sorry this has had to be cancelled but I will continue to seek venues in the UK and elsewhere where I can talk about my future vision for Sri Lanka.'
"His Excellency went on to say, 'I will also continue in my efforts to unite all the people of our country whether they live in Sri Lanka or overseas. As a united country we have a great future. If we allow divisions to dominate we will not realise our true potential. We have had thirty years of division and conflict. We must now secure peace and harmony for all Sri Lankans.' "
The text of the statement was also released in Colombo by the Presidential Secretariat and later read out in Parliament on Friday by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Bell Pottinger had also advised that an urgent news conference be held. External Affairs Minister Peiris held one in a third floor room of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Hyde Park Gardens.
"Is threatening the life of a community in a British city, to prevent the expression of a point of view, acceptable in a functioning and vibrant democracy", asked Dr. Peiris. He accused the Oxford Union of succumbing to "an immense degree of pressure and threats being brought on the Union." He revealed that "While the public statement referred to the sheer scale of expected protests, that they did not feel the talk can reasonably and safely go ahead as planned, the letter to President Rajapaksa presented this danger in more detail and in its true perspective. It is said that the 'disruption and danger that residents and citizens and community, would face is by far too great to justify hosting the speech. This is to say nothing of our members who similarly, could be directly placed in danger should the expected protests turn violent."
Peiris complained that the "Thames Valley Police have strongly advised that they will most likely not be able to guarantee the security of the Union, its members, its neighbouring businesses, or your delegation. Quite simply the expected protests are likely to be on a scale that would have been unprecedented in Oxford, placing immense strain on the local police."
Firstly, it is a serious indictment on Dr. Peiris, if he, as the External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka, was unable to appreciate ground realities and advise President Rajapaksa accordingly. If indeed, he did so, it seems unlikely that Rajapaksa would have rejected it out of hand and proceeded to London for an exercise that has given oxygen to a divided and dying LTTE lobby. Were there others outside the official system who were responsible for pressuring Rajapaksa to go ahead with plans for the address to the Oxford Union? The question seems to linger in influential sections of the government.
Voice of Voltaire
Dr. Peiris quoted Voltaire saying, "I disagree with every word you say, but shall defend unto death your right to say what you have to say….." The remarks drew a query from the media. "You quoted Voltaire….. but international journalists have not been allowed to report in some areas of your country. People have also been denied permission to put up posters. Please comment". He replied, "In any country where there are problems, there are restrictions. According to the official record of the news conference, Dr. Peiris cited examples of IRA leaders being taken off the British Media. "We cannot look to the past, we must propagate the message of reconciliation, and this is the President's message," Peiris said.
Mike Woolridge, a senior veteran with the BBC was at first not allowed into the news conference venue at the Sri Lanka High Commission. There was confusion over his name in the list provided to the security staff. In fact, official records of the news conference listed him as Mike Alridge. He was later cleared. Police clutching rifles provided heavy security cover for the news conference.
Wooldridge asked, "Can you comment on the Wikileaks revelations, specifically Ambassador Butenis' statement that civilian and military leaders were responsible for war crimes?"
Dr. Peiris: "Communications between governments are confidential and must remain so. Should any major concerns be raised or revealed, we will take up all necessary concerns through proper diplomatic channels. Misconceptions must be resolved by direct negotiations and discussions."
In Colombo, the External Affairs Ministry had issued a statement which said:
"The Ministry of External Affairs is in the process of obtaining the contents of the documents allegedly pertaining to Sri Lanka put in the public domain by Wikileaks.
"In principle, this Ministry does not wish to comment publicly on privileged communications of a foreign government. However, if the contents reveal any material relevant to Sri Lanka's interest, these will be taken up through diplomatic channels.
"The Ministry re-iterates that there is no change in the position of the Government of Sri Lanka in any matters referred to in these cables.
The Ministry of External Affairs does not condone the act of putting in the public domain in an illegal manner, privileged and confidential information."
If the above statement was posted on the External Affairs Ministry's website, later a paragraph (highlighted in black above) has been removed. Was it an afterthought?
Owen Bowcott of the Guardian newspaper asked Dr. Peiris: "David Cameron (Prime Minister) has supported calls for an independent investigation. Please comment.
Dr. Peiris: That is what we have in the LLRC.
Bowcott: I think he means international.
Dr. Peiris: No, he didn't say that. Do not put words into his mouth, to convey your expectations.
BBC Sandeshaya's Chandana Keerthi Bandara was to raise a question from Dr. Peiris over the fate of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. That ended the news conference. Peiris got up and walked away. There was a mild diversion at this point when the leaders of a group of around 25 to 30 pro-government demonstrators who were shouting slogans outside Dorchester Hotel turned up at the High Commission. They joined the media when refreshments were served. A High Commission official had to ask them to withdraw and proceed downstairs.
The leader of one of those bodies, who did not wish to be identified, said, some groups had kept away due to the jailing of former General Sarath Fonseka and were demanding his release.
If the Sri Lanka Government was clear not to engage its British counterparts in any of its remarks, limiting blame to the Oxford Union and the Thames Valley Police, there was reciprocity. The British High Commission in Colombo said;
"Following a number of inquiries today, the British High Commission would like to make clear certain matters relating to the cancelled event at the Oxford Union.
"The planned event was a private one organised by the Oxford Union and the Sri Lankan High Commission in London. The UK government had no involvement in the planning of this meeting or the decision to cancel it. Public order and security considerations were a matter for the Oxford Union and the Police."
Diplomatic fallout
However, in this backdrop, a demonstration outside the British High Commission in Colombo was to cause some strain between Colombo and London. The message through the demonstration and the speeches made there, it appeared, were to blame pointedly the British Government for the Oxford Society impasse. A diplomatic source said Britain was just recovering from recession. "This is Christmas season. The police did not want the lives of people in Oxford inconvenienced by protestors disturbing their annual festivities," the source added. Alastair Burt, Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for South Asia, on Friday night cancelled a planned three-day visit to Sri Lanka. Burt was slated to meet Dr. Peiris next Wednesday in Colombo and travel to the North.
Since it became known that the talk at the Oxford Union was off, President Rajapaksa and his entourage made arrangements to return to Colombo cutting short their visit to Britain. December 2, it turned out was a difficult day with weather conditions deteriorating in London. He hosted a reception for Sri Lankans at the Dorchester at 6 pm that day and left for Colombo later that night on the scheduled Sri Lankan Airlines UL 510 to return to Colombo.
Even before President Rajapaksa returned, the Oxford fiasco reverberated in Parliament at Sri Jayawardhanapura, Kotte. Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was to accuse UNP (Gampaha District) parliamentarian Jayalath Jayawardena of being in London to help co-ordinate the campaign against Rajapaksa. However, Jayawardena flatly denied the charge and said he was in Milan when the events occurred in London. He produced his passport as proof of travel to Italy. At least three others including one freshly appointed to the Cabinet, roughed up Jayawardena.
Ranil responds
On Thursday, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, to seek an urgent meeting. The latter was away in Matara. On Friday morning, both Wickremesinghe and UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya met Speaker Rajapaksa and alleged that four UPFA parliamentarians including two ministers had manhandled Jayawardena. The Speaker allowed Jayawardena to make a statement explaining his position later on Friday. Jayasuriya also telephoned Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne to complain about the Jayawardena incident.
Wickremesinghe told the Sunday Times, "We have made our position very clear. He (Jayawardena) had nothing to do with the London protests. They are attacking him because he took up Sarath Fonseka's case with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in London. They must find out who is responsible and deal with them instead of looking for scapegoats."
Wickremesinghe said some government personalities had complained of denial of "freedom of speech" for President Rajapaksa's inability to address the Oxford Union. "What about the denial of freedom of speech to Jayawardena in the past few days." He said that the Oxford fiasco had come about despite British government warnings over security risks.
The Sunday Times learns that investigations are already under way to ascertain if there is any connection between Dr. Jayawardena and the pro-LTTE groups that staged protests against the President. He continues to deny such involvement. However, if there is evidence, he faces the prospects of a possible probe possibly by a Parliamentary Select Committee and expulsion if found guilty, says a government source.
Other than raise issues over their colleague Jayawardena, UNP leaders have remained extremely cautious in their comments over the Oxford fiasco. Opposition Chief Whip John Ameratunga, said in Parliament that the UNP condemned the demonstrations in Britain. UNP deputy leader Jayasuriya said yesterday, "this regime has chosen once more to lay blame on the Opposition, manhandle Opposition members of parliament and generally pass the buck for all the winds that are blowing against Sri Lanka in the world".
Not only Ameratunga, but all right thinking Sri Lankans would condemn the protests outright for that led to the cancellation of a speech the President of Sri Lanka was to make at Oxford Union. It brought humiliation to the nation's first citizen and gave a major boost to the LTTE lobby overseas.
However, the bigger question remains. Who was responsible for the fiasco? From all accounts, however inexperienced Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Nihal Jayasinghe may be as a diplomat, the former Supreme Court judge is reported to have faxed the President and told him not to come to Britain. He had forwarded an opinion from well-known Sri Lankan Queen's Counsel Desmond de Silva who is practising in Britain, that the visit must not give an opportunity for an action to be initiated in a British court of law for 'war crimes' in Sri Lanka.
Jayasinghe has also complained that Dilan Fernando, a Sri Lankan student at Oxford who was liaising over the event with two others had not been courteous enough to inform him of Presdent Rajapaksa's arrival in London. The High Commissioner had learnt of it only from communications he had received from the External Affairs Ministry.
Jayasinghe left this week to Cambodia where he sits on a UN Tribunal, of all things on War Crimes. His fax should be made public. Reports also indicate that even the SLFP UK branch president Ranee Bulathwewa, a Solicitor has also advised the President.
Then whose advise did the President swallow? Much blame has been laid at the door-step of the Sri Lanka Society at Oxford, a deputy at the Sri Lanka High Commission, a Presidential adviser and a Sri Lankan Ambassador serving in another European station, who all wanted to share the kudos for the President's visit without seeing the bigger picture. All this while the Minister of External Affairs, whose duty it was to give the final word of advice to his President remained mute. As a diplomat pointed out yesterday, heads do not roll in Sri Lanka for those who cause political blunders of enormous proportions or simply denigrate their leaders. "They only swell," he remarked sarcastically. |
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