No intention to harm Sri Lanka : Swiss Ambassador to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Swiss Ambassador in Sri Lanka Hanspeter Mock was quoted as saying during a discussion with President Goatabya Rajapaksa that Switzerland harboures no intention to do any harm to Sri Lanka.

Swiss Ambassador Mock called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today at the President's office and held cordial discussions according to a statement from the President's Media division.

The visit comes against the backdrop of alleged allegations made by a Swiss Embassy staffer who claimed that she was abducted and questioned on Nov 25.

“We wish to work together for the benefit of both countries. Also we need to overcome this situation of tension and to remove any misunderstanding,” the Swiss Ambassador was quoted as saying during the discussion.

In response President Rajapaksa explained to the Ambassador the progress of investigations in to the incident so far.

“It is very well established by now that the alleged abduction is a total fabrication. Irrefutable evidence such as Uber reports, telephone conversations and CCTV footages point to this fact. The Embassy official must have been compelled by some interested parties to bring myself and my government in to disrepute. It is not clear why the alleged victims acted in such a manner,” President Rajapaksa said according to the statement .

President Rajapaksa said that he saw no wrong in the initial reaction by the Swiss Embassy when this incident was first reported. “It is justifiable. If a member of its staff is in trouble, the Embassy has to intervene”.

President requested the Ambassador to cooperate with the government to conduct the investigation to its end so that the truth would be emerged.