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Will support to resolve matter, but still can’t question employee on health grounds: Switzerland

3 December 2019 12:56 pm - 28     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Switzerland has said it would support Sri Lanka in all measures to investigate and resolve the Swiss Embassy employee matter by due process of law but that the concerned employee still cannot be questioned on health grounds.

Swiss State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl, who summoned Ambassador Karunasena Hettiarachchi, has emphasised that the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) would support all measures to investigate and resolve this matter by due process of law.

“Ms.Baeriswyl confirmed that the employee concerned still cannot be questioned on health grounds, stressing that the individual's health must take priority. She also indicated that while Switzerland had no interest in delaying investigations by the Sri Lankan authorities, the FDFA takes its responsibilities to its staff very seriously,” a statement issued by the FDFA said.

It said State Secretary Baeriswyl summoned Ambassador Hettiarachchi who is based in Berlin, to Bern in Switzerland following several demarches from the FDFA over the incident concerning an employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo.

Ms. Baeriswyl confirmed at the meeting that Switzerland supports measures to investigate and settle this matter through due process of law. However, the employee concerned still cannot be questioned on health grounds.

In conveying this message, Ms. Baeriswyl responded to a statement issued by the Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Ministry on December 1, which questioned the embassy's presentation of the facts.

She also asked Ambassador Hettiarachchi to explain the purported evidence against the events described by the embassy, which the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had alluded to in its press release.

She affirmed to Ambassador Hettiarachchi that Switzerland remained ready to take the necessary steps to restore confidence between Switzerland and Sri Lanka.

“At the end of November, a local employee at the Swiss Embassy in Colombo was detained after being picked up from the street and threatened by unidentified men to force her to disclose embassy-related information. The FDFA responded to this incident through a series of demarches. The embassy reported the incident to the Sri Lankan authorities, calling for a swift and thorough investigation to be conducted,” the statement said.


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  Comments - 28

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  • suresh Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:33 PM

    Who is delaying the investigation now???

    roobarbie Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:34 PM

    This is not a matter to be resolved in Geneva. The so called fake witness in Sri Lanka and that is where the alleged incident happened. People that had been involved in attempted murders can give evidence and this woman claiming that she cannot is a damn lie and fabrication in which switzerland government and ambassador is now in complicity. Co-Conspirators. Shame on you, and no one will ever trust you as a neutral country.

    Suresh Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:36 PM

    Let her going trough a medical examination. lie after lie and paid by LTTE diaspora

    johan Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:45 PM

    Normally any government will defend their country and will not agree or accept these types of incidents. e.g.what happened in Saudi. Therefore better HRC should mediate both sides and settle this case without dragging

    Anmanpan Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:48 PM

    Well said. The last time it was the bond scam and this time, even worse abductions. No comments still from the jokers in fancy dress.

    ravin Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:50 PM

    Well can someone or better swiss embassy forward, what the procedure in Switzerland if similar incident occurred as well as acceptable norms in world vide criminal procedure .

    Mm Tuesday, 03 December 2019 01:51 PM

    Yeah better check the employees mental health. This all seems a big sham

    Ram Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:04 PM

    The finger points to those who directed white vans prior to 2015. This will never be investigated until the victim is given for questioning. It is the habit of Police to grill the victim to frustration if the suspects are high profile, irrespective of their party

    Neville Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:14 PM

    This is how Western powers are behaving. You can imagine how USA will behave if and when the MCC becomes law in the country.

    Neville Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:16 PM

    So,a local is above the law of the land just because she is in the check roll of Switzerland.

    Neville Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:18 PM

    Switzerland is very serious about responsibilities towards the staff.,but not concerned about the law of the land to which this woman belongs.

    Max Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:23 PM

    How can a comprehensive probe can be conducted without questioning the main victim? This must be the first step need to be taken. Delaying this will further implies its a fabricated story.

    Ram Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:24 PM

    Hope she gets well soon and give out details to crack the case. Worried because she is not even seeing a doctor.

    Nancy Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:26 PM

    please take the necessary actions to have a word with main victim to CID. People of Sri Lanka is far intelligent than you guys though.

    Noname Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:36 PM

    Didn't defense secretary and foreign secretary explain this to their ambassador here in Colombo already? Why the evidence has to be explain again to Swiss state secretary by SL ambassador in Germany? Can't their ambassador in Colombo explain the material evidence to their foreign minister?

    Chethiyasena Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:41 PM

    Govt should demand the Embassy to allow a Govt doctor examine this person. By the way this person is a SL citizen - Swiss Embassy has given her some kind of asylum. Very funny people these Europeans. Demanding “expediting and resolving” without letting anyone talk to the main actor. Paying Hamlet without the Prince!

    upali Jayasekera Tuesday, 03 December 2019 02:47 PM

    This seems to be a manupulated drama to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka as there can not be any circumstance in which an alleged victim is unable to even be seen by Sri Lankan authorities.

    Sokrates Tuesday, 03 December 2019 04:14 PM

    Switzerland is the country with the best reputation worldwide. It is an outrage how this small insignificant country of Sri Lanka deals with Switzerland. Let the woman leave the country undisturbed. A hearing on video would still be possible. Bring the White Van Team behind bars. The president must publicly apologize to Switzerland.

    S Ranatunga Tuesday, 03 December 2019 08:16 PM

    Why can't the embassy request a person to be present from the embassy. Daily mirror unfortunately publishing only certain comments why ?

    Duminda Tuesday, 03 December 2019 04:39 PM

    Swiss people know what they are doing.. they know once the employee is identified she and her family will be threatened, and she will have to change the evidence or drop the case.. they consider this is an attack on their human right policy, on their government policy, so they will protect the employee at any cost..

    S Ranatunga Tuesday, 03 December 2019 06:53 PM

    They are taking time to make false evidence and training the person. Can't you understand? Never thought they are this cheap

    june macapagal Tuesday, 03 December 2019 06:56 PM

    Once she is questioned, then they will intimidate her and get her to confess. This is why she is not willing to make a complain. The truth is that she was abducted and interrogated by these thugs who have started their old job again.

    Kingslwy Wijesinhe Tuesday, 03 December 2019 07:05 PM

    Local employees of an embassy do not have diplomatic immunity. The moment she steps out of the Swiss embassy, she can be arrested and questioned. So she will either have to talk to the police soon, or remain in the Swiss embassy for ever.

    kumar Tuesday, 03 December 2019 07:16 PM

    Why wasn't MS

    negarfield2 Tuesday, 03 December 2019 08:55 PM

    Embassy trying its best to avoid interrogation which will spill out the part ,played by Swiss embassy to sent head of the department harassing political opponents of CID to Switzerland

    Asela Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:22 PM

    The incompetent, inept, hypocritical Swiss!

    Asela Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:25 PM

    Never would've guessed that the Swiss are so incompetent and have ZERO Neutrality whatsoever. What a joke!

    Asela Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:25 PM

    Never would've guessed that the Swiss are so incompetent and have ZERO Neutrality whatsoever. What a joke!


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