Government of Sri Lanka has insulted Iran: Opposition

By Yohan Perera   

The government of Sri Lanka has insulted Iran by denying the remark made by the Iranian Ambassador in Colombo that the vessel IRIS Dena received an official invitation from Sri Lanka to visit the island nation.   

One time Minister of External Affairs Professor G. L. Peiris made this remark on behalf of the joint opposition in relation to the statement made by Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa that there was no invitation in the diplomatic level.   

“Cabinet spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa on Tuesday said there was no invitation for IRIS Dena in the diplomatic level. However the Iranian Ambassador clearly said the Sri Lankan Navy Commander had sent an official invitation to his Iranian counterpart. Accordingly, this is an official and a diplomatic invitation as it has been a government to government one. Sri Lankan government has actually insulted Iran, which is a friendly nation where Sri Lanka is concerned,” Professor Peiris told a briefing.   

“The Iranian Ambassador had pledged that his country would provide fuel to Sri Lanka which is considered as a friendly nation. Therefore the Sri Lankan government has been playing around with its foreign policy,” he added. 

“We would not have insulted friendly nations if we were running the government today,” he said.   

Meanwhile Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman who took up the issue on Tuesday proposed that Sri Lankan government should tender an apology to Iran. “Sri Lankan government should also tender an apology for not inquiring about its situation in the face of Middle East conflict. Sri Lankan government should talk to other Middle Eastern nations which are affected by the conflict and should pledge solidarity,” he said.   

Cabinet Sposkeman Jayatissa earlier said there was no diplomatic level invitation for IRIS Dena. He said the government would its utmost to maintain neutrality with regard to the war in the Middle East.