Stick to mandate, SLMM told

Rajmi MANATUNGA

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday warned the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that it will not hesitate to subject the monitors to security checks if they continue to misuse their immunity in a manner prejudicial to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

Commenting on Icelandic Foreign Ministry Councillor Bjarni Vestmann’s meeting with representatives of the LTTE, Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the SLMM had made a serious blunder by providing help for an unauthorised rendezvous during a private visit by the diplomat to the country.

“Any person can make a private visit to Sri Lanka so long as he abides by the law of the land. But this meeting concerned the sovereignty of the country since they could have been carrying personnel the Government would not have approved of. The Government considers it essential to prevent any further action of this nature,” he said.

Rambukwella said although the apology tendered by the Government of Iceland was acceptable at the diplomatic level, it was questionable as to whether the SLMM could redress its abuse of immunity by merely apologising.

“The SLMM has committed similar acts in the past and we have piles of letters of apologies from them for such actions. As a result, we have now been compelled to go even to the extent of checking their personnel and vehicles, if it is necessary in the interest of the country,” he said.

The Defence Spokesman also pointed out that Norwegian envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer had to undergo a bitter experience after he made a similar unauthorised detour to Mavilaru last year, when he was permitted only to have negotiations with the LTTE.