SL court gives green light to sue Norwegian Ambassador

16 May 2013 02:48 am - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Dismissing an application made by the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the Colombo District Court has declared that the Ambassador could be sued despite his diplomatic immunity.

The Court made this direction when action was filed against the Norwegian Ambassador demanding over Rs. 90 million.

The district judge Amali Ranaweera made this observation sequel to an action filed by a private institution namely Foundation for Co-Existence Guarantee Limited, in which Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe served as the Chief Executive Officer and carried out Norwegian and British funded projects.

The plaintiff had cited Norwegian Ambassador, Hilde Haraldstad, Norwegian Minister of Development Co-operation and Environment, Erik Solheim, Norwagian Foreign Affairs Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, former Counselor at the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo Edle Hamre and the British High Commissioner among others as defendants.

In June 2008, the British High Commission and the Norwegian Embassy had entered into an agreement with the plaintiff to carry out projects promoting peace and co-existence related work for a period from 2008 to 2011.

However following a ‘forensic audit,’ the Norwegian government had terminated the contract with the plaintiff and broken the agreement they had entered into.

The Norwegian Ambassador and other Norwegian foreign officials had cited the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations-1961 and argued that they were covered by the diplomatic immunity and they could not be sued in Sri Lanka.

Having gone through the submissions, the District Court dismissed the application made by the Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad and three other officials of the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry seeking entitlement for diplomatic immunity. (Susitha R. Fernando)

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Comments - 14

Wantok Mali Abu Thursday, 16 May 2013 03:23 AM

Alright this is going to open a whole new chapter in SL Judicial activism n hope it does not tarnish our once healthy image which is already blurring into oblivion.

weha Thursday, 16 May 2013 03:31 AM

another international level blunder. if they ignore the diplomatic immunity then the other countries too would ignore ours.

Kiwi Thursday, 16 May 2013 03:39 AM

The Norwegian Ambassador can be sued in his private capacity for private liabilities but this does not seem the case here and is very likely to ensue in some unprecedented happenings.

OMG Thursday, 16 May 2013 03:54 AM

Why does Norway mess with Sri Lanka all the time. First BBS and now this.

saman Thursday, 16 May 2013 04:27 AM

No way....................!!!!!

kumar Thursday, 16 May 2013 06:47 AM

Sri Lanka is exempted State in every way. It is member of UN but don't obey it's regulations ,it has many diplomatic representations worldwide but don't mind the Vienna convention.

Upali Thursday, 16 May 2013 06:51 AM

Those cases against President and Shavendra Silva that were dismissed in USA and UK will be re-opened. We are jumping from frying pan on to the fire.

damitha de silva Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:02 AM

HIS ????

ms. hilde haralstad is a lady !!!

Dalu Banda Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:54 AM

What has happen to Kumar Rupasingha who was sleeping with the angle of death in all the time.

Nodrog Thursday, 16 May 2013 08:15 AM

If its legal then why not? Time we stood up to these foreigners who think they can have their way with us all the time.

xlntgson Thursday, 16 May 2013 08:32 AM

Immunity is like knife, cuts flesh, not bone! Bone-donor; flesh-donee.

sayed Thursday, 16 May 2013 08:34 AM

return will be verry soon.

Dammika Thursday, 16 May 2013 12:16 PM

Big blunder ... asking for trouble. Remember Shavendra Silva and some other military officers working in the diplomatic circle

QMSI Thursday, 16 May 2013 12:16 PM

Kumar knows when to jump ship!

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SL court gives green light to sue Norwegian Ambassador

Comments - 14

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