Boggles summons British HC

24 February 2010 10:46 am

By Dianne Silva


Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama had summoned the British Acting High Commissioner in Colombo this morning to express Sri Lanka’s strong opposition towards British Foreign Secretary David Miliband attending the Global Tamil Forum Conference in London.

The Conference is believed to be in support of a separate state in Sri Lanka and Minister Bogollagama said that by attending the conference Miliband will be going against Britain’s policies on separatism.

The Minister quoted from the statement of Secretary Milliband and expressed that whatever his intentions the presence of such a high level UK official at a conference of this nature would send mixed signals to the International community. “Whatever his intentions may be, his physical presence there will give manifestations to the support of a separatist organisation,” Bogollagama said.

“I will be addressing the forthcoming London Conference of the Global Tamil Forum to encourage a forward looking and constructive approach,” Miliband had told the House of Commons. 

“The Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Elam, which is attached to the Global Tamil Forum, is a direct threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka,” Minister Bogollagama has told the acting High Commissioner.   

“It’s not what his idea was of being there. The seeming support of any front organisation will have consequences in the way it will be perceived by the International Community and the Sri Lankan community,” the Minister reiterated.

Minister Bogollagama said the government had taken serious note of this statement and the implications it would have. “I informed the High Commissioner that his (Millliband) presence would slur the reputation of the UK’s support to counter terrorism,” the Foreign Minister said.

“This statement has gotten worldwide attention and the government of Sri Lanka has taken serious note of this statement,” the Minister said.