Nonis should have complained to NYPD: Kiriella

14 November 2014 04:15 pm

United National Party (UNP) MP Lakshman Kiriella, who commented on the assault on Dr. Chris Nonis, the former Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London, said a complaint should have been lodged with New York Police Department instead of waiting for redress from the Sri Lankan authorities.

Mr. Kiriella made these remarks during the committee stage of the budget debate on the vote of the External Affairs Ministry.

Dr. Nonis was assaulted at the New York residence of a SriLankan Airlines Director based in the United States.

Mr. Kiriella said in the past when he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, competence in foreign languages such as English and French was sought from those seeking to enter the Foreign Service but today self defence skills were a key requirement for anyone joining this service.

"Today, our ambassadors and high commissioners are getting hammered. Therefore, they should know self defence such as Judo or Karate," he said. “Dr.Nonis should have made a complaint to the New York police. Then, the assailant would have been arrested."

Monitoring MP of the External Affairs Ministry Sajin de Vaas Gunawardane, who was involved in this brawl, said he was not ready to give a detailed reply to Mr. Kiriella in this regard.

"I have clarified everything in the media. I am asking you to read these newspaper reports," he said. (KB and YP)