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| Tuesday, 02 November 2004 |
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Sri Lanka intensifies efforts by Manjula Fernando The Foreign Ministry will seek guidance from the Indian Government for the release of Sri Lankan driver Dinesh Rajaratnam held hostage by an islamic militant group in Iraq from Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala said the Indian authorities effectively handled a similar incident recently involving three Indian hostages. "We hope to get their advice on this issue." India successfully negotiated the release of three of its citizens employed in Iraq abducted by Iraqi militants recently. Despite abductors' demanding a ransom, ultimately the authorities' efforts paid off. The process had involved behind the scene negotiations since the Government denied any direct contacts with the militant group. "We also expect to employ all our diplomatic channels in the Middle East with whom we have had excellent relations right throughout, to ensure the release of Dinesh," Prof.Warnapala added. He said the militant group which calls themselves Ansar Sunnah (Islamic Army) has made no contact so far or informed as to why these two employees of Jassim Transport company of Kuwait were abducted on October 28. The other hostage is a Bangladeshi national. "According to information received from our mission in Kuwait they have been kidnapped while trying to enter a US military base." The Foreign Ministry has sought assistance from Sri Lankan missions in Kuwait, Lebanon and Qatar to get in touch with various organisations in the Middle East, in efforts to get the Sri Lankan driver released soon. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga clearly stated that Sri Lanka would not send troops to Iraq even if a request is made, addressing reporters at a media conference during the UNGA world leaders debate at the UN headquarters in September. "This had been our foreign policy on Iraq and this is the message that we hope to put across to them," the Deputy Minister quoting the President explained. He said Dinesh had not been involved in any military activities in Iraq but was working as a driver to earn a fair living. Nearly 160 abductions have taken place in Iraq since the war began on March 20, 2003 out of which over 30 have been killed by shooting or beheading by various extremist militant groups. Meanwhile, a Foreign Ministry press release states: the Government will do everything possible to secure the release of the Sri Lankan national taken hostage by militants in Iraq. This assurance was given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the next of kin (NOK) of Dinesh Darmendra Rajaratanam, whom was reportedly abducted by a militant group along with his Bangladesh colleague. Dinesh Rajaratnam, a 37-year-old father of three, is a resident of Alabodawatta, Hendala, Wattala. The Foreign Ministry officials met with Rajaratnam's wife Doreen Rita Buljens, father K. Rajaratnam, and a relative, Suresh on Sunday and discussed arrangements being made to secure Rajaratnam's release. Rajaratnam had left Sri Lanka for Kuwait on 9th June 2003, through a local agency in Grandpass. He was working for Jassim Transport Company in Kuwait as a heavy vehicle driver. Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Kuwait has met with the owner of the parent company, Transport and Warehousing Group of Companies in Kuwait on Saturday, in this regard. The company has assured that they are in the process of establishing contact with the militant group with a view to securing the release of the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi nationals. |
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