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No protest over protest

1 March 2010 08:23 am - 53     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Jamila Najmuddin


The British High Commission in Colombo has not lodged a complaint with the Sri Lankan government over a protest staged in front of the embassy this morning despite a well known government ally participating in the demonstration.

Foreign Ministry sources told Daily Mirror Online that they had not received any communication from the British High Commission or the party involved in staging the protest and therefore the government too would not respond or comment.

“This is purely a private protest and has nothing to do with the government. We have also not received any complaints,” a source at the Ministry said.

Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama also confirmed that he had not been informed of the protest and if any party lodged a complaint, then he would respond accordingly.

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa participated in the protest in front of the High Commission this morning against British Foreign Secretary David Miliband attending the Global Tamil Forum in London last week. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had also later met with the delegates of the Forum.

At the protest, large cut out’s of the British Prime Minister and Miliband were seen pasted across the walls with both of them dressed in LTTE outfits.

However when contacted and questioned if a complaint would be lodged against the protest and the large cut out’s portraying Miliband and Brown as LTTE cadres, Spokesperson at the British High Commission Dominic Williams said that Britain would not make an official comment.

The Sri Lankan government last week also protested vehemently stating that it was unethical of British senior government members attending such pro LTTE events and had also summoned the Acting British High Commissioner in Colombo over the issue. (Daily Mirror online)






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  Comments - 53

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  • Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:04 AM

    Nothing wrong in Brown & Milliband addressing such a gathering while SL Govt. is providing protection & luxury life to top LTTE fellows who killed hundreds of innocent civilians. WW before acting look at your own house.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 12:23 PM

    Britain and the world should now realize the real sri lanka terrorists who are protesting against peace. however these protests are good to make more attention on sri lanka.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 12:39 PM

    ko tear gas......." SL POLICE" Full support vaga.... NO THUGS....

    Monday, 01 March 2010 01:15 PM

    Who cares??? These protests have no strength . I am certain the UK govt caress less about their protests. This is just one sided.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 01:17 PM

    Brown and Milliband look good in the tiger outfits. Maybe they should wear it more often!!. Keep up the good work Brown and Milliband.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 01:33 PM

    Good joke!

    Monday, 01 March 2010 01:39 PM

    WW
    our future FM?

    Monday, 01 March 2010 02:03 PM

    Who care this protest.Wimal.is a peanut for British .Try to do something else, without putting the same old record,because we are fedup with all of your's gamei drama

    Monday, 01 March 2010 02:32 PM

    bunch of jokers in sarath fonseka's language

    Monday, 01 March 2010 06:43 PM

    Whoever speaks for Tamils is 'LTTE' ... Why is this?

    Monday, 01 March 2010 07:09 PM

    Who cares about these stupid protests? I bet the British are "shivering in their boots in fear of these protests," in Colombo. They achieve nothing ... just "playing to the gallery" ...

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:09 PM

    The Parliament election will be in April and comrade Wimal Weerawansa is trying so hard to win the election, and a possible Ministerial job - "Minister for Public Protest"!

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:35 PM

    Play the race 'card,' to get more votes!

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:52 PM

    All these people who are clamouring to silence the non-violent voice of Tamils, must take resposibilty, if the next generation of Tamils takes-up arms again.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 12:18 PM

    Simple Mind, If the tamil terrorist supporters can protest in the heart of London, why can't we protest against the Labour croonies who will be defeated at the next election.
    It is quite alright and there is no calibre issue. The english are backboneless fellows and will cow down to any calibres to get their votes.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:12 AM

    Louisa,
    your back in the scene, fine.
    The same game the srilankan politicos do, isn't it? Just to amass votes they promise anything or do any ugly job.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:21 AM

    Western counties have realised that only way of bringing peace in the tiny island by accepting two nation. This is a perfect example for that. Sri lanka goverent has done enough damage to the Tamils for not to live with Sinhalese. US will also follow the same. I won't surprise similar meeting would be held in White House. Useless protest like this agaist british embassy will not change the stands of western countries. Sri Lanka should hold meeting with Tamil diaspora to seek peaceful solution by accepting their self-detemination to avoid other countries to act to have separate nation within the Island.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:31 AM

    That’s why peoples say “Pachaaude” for him; he is doing nothing and surviving by doing like this “boru sobana” but our poor Sri Lankan voters will placed him at 01st in the preferential vote list. Very sad about my mother land!!

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:42 AM

    The British have asked what protest, Wimal must shout in english next time.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:56 AM

    Western counties have realised that only way of bringing peace in the tiny island by accepting two nation. This is a perfect example for that. Sri lanka goverent has done enough damage to the Tamils for not to live with Sinhalese. US will also follow the same. I won't surprise similar meeting would be held in White House. Useless protest like this agaist british embassy will not change the stands of western countries. Sri Lanka should hold meeting with Tamil diaspora to seek peaceful solution by accepting their self-detemination to avoid other countries to act to have separate nation within the Island.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:06 AM

    Well anyone can get into UK if you have the correct documents. Protests should be done as these are not only limited to tamil tiger supporters. Carry on Wimal. The terrorist supporters thought London was Jaffna the way they carried on the protest.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:07 AM

    Who cares if a bunch of gooligans protest. The world will go on as usual.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:08 AM

    They can do what ever they want but UK cannot bully Sri Lanka. Their time is over. Gordon Brown will be back in Scotland in a few days time and so will Milliband licking his wounds.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:10 AM

    Harry, no one has to achieve anything but the High Com will let the UK Govt know what goes on so that Brown and Milliband will know there is disregard to what they did.
    These fellows are trying to get the tamil vote but they are doomed already.

    Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:17 AM

    Well Tharma then did you like the tamil tiger supporter protest in London. We hated it and the inconvenience. Come on Wimal have another as the two croonies must be defeated.

    Wednesday, 03 March 2010 04:30 AM

    The educated British wd not condescend to even respond to WW's cry. I hope the international community wd refuse visas to patriots like WW, visit their countries. The criticised the US - but grabbed the opportunity to obtain loans from the IMF!! How funny.

    Thursday, 04 March 2010 10:59 AM

    Another event in the communalists competition in SL

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:03 AM

    Dont be too concerned protesters. Afterall, M/s Milliband & Brown had to please an audience consisting of a significant minority, especially when the crucial British general election is just around the corner.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:30 AM

    Wimal seems to be overcooking the meal.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:40 AM

    Just a protest..........

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:48 AM

    The elections are around the corner and WW has to show the gallary that he is fighting the british govt all alone to remove their plug.If this was a protest against the govt the police would have batton charged them.How come they managed to protest like this in a HSZ.We are showing the world the calibre of our politicians.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:54 AM

    Wimal Sahodaraya and Gordon Sahodaraya with David Sahodaraya are doing the same thing. Campaigning. Brits understand. So should we.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:04 AM

    SF was branded as LTTE and now British Prime Minister and Miliband. Does it mean that we have two possible states in our heads. We catagorise the humans on this planet into two groups. They are either LTTE or non-LTTE. Whoever join any forums that talk about Tamils are LTTE according to those who do such demonstrations. Which means we are giving more credibilty to LTTE by associating them with all the world leaders.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:24 AM

    This is no joke,put partisan lankan politics aside and think about Sri Lanka.If WTF is allowed to continue,they will next meet at the white house.
    We all know it and feel WTF is yet another Tiger front which must be taken seriously and brought down,broken up.It's sympathisers educated that Lankan Tamils are fed up with separatist politics.
    TNA says it will work with the government.Best option for Jaffna tamils and Eastern tamils is vote UPFA and get direct & speedy development to its areas.
    US Senator Casey sent such a nice letter to WTF due to WTF influence and political donations.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:32 AM

    Is Mahinda Rajapakshe is our President or Wimal Weerawansa the president. Weerawansa is trying to dance too much being a tale in the Govt. This good for nothing garbage has to be thrown out soon, otherwise, our country will have to face lot of problems in the future.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:43 AM

    Every person in the civilized world whether he or she is the British Prime Minister or any other person in any other democratic country is entitled to the freedom of speech, expression, peaceful assembly and assosciation. From this action it appears to me that Wimal Weerawansa is of the opinion that his party and the current government of Sri Lanka are entitled to such freedom.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:47 AM

    Well done! The protests should go on and that's how the tamil tiger supporters in UK did for weeks and weeks. Milliband's and Brown's effigies should be burnt to show the feelings of the sri lankans.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:48 AM

    Won't it be enough to get results? Protest and counter protest, the attention seeking is fulfilled.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 09:54 AM

    There is no need to reply or protest - pl. don't go down to that level - however,
    pl refuse Wimal W an entry visa to the UK the next time he applies.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:00 AM

    UK High commission is not in HSZ. Despite your lamenting, WW will get maximum preferential votes.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 08:28 AM

    They know that a complaint agaisnt these justifiable protests will not work.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:07 AM

    We should not shout against Britain . It is our duty to kneel down & worship them. Then only we can keep happy at least
    25% of sri lankans.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:17 AM

    They don't care, Uk will do whatever they want and nobody can stop them.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:19 AM

    What did Weerawansa achieve out of this action?

    Monday, 01 March 2010 10:29 AM

    THIS IS ALSO AN INTERNATIONAL CONSPIRACY .

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:04 AM

    Anything for a bottle and pack of fags.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:05 AM

    Will WW at any stage be sending his children to the UK , US or Australia for their higher education. . Am pretty sure it won't be to China or Iran.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:16 AM

    In uk miliband is considered as a joker. We don't have bother of these jokers

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:21 AM

    Well Said Charles....all are campaigning for votes in Britain and Sri-Lanka respectively

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:35 AM

    uk lets the dogs bark nothing goin to happen to.....

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:38 AM

    This is about state affairs. Political Parties should not allow to harm state affairs. GOV has clearly informed their stant on that issue. Wimal Look For MANAPA. His only hero and saviour is the MR.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 11:53 AM

    Its on the verge of an election. But the fact remains that only WW has guts to be present on a protest like this. Nobody will speak against these colonial regimes even to target some votes. My opinion is everyone should protest against these. So this is praiseworthy.

    Monday, 01 March 2010 12:16 PM

    trying to get a couple of racists votes for his party :-)


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