Chilcott summoned to Foreign Ministry to register displeasure at comments

British High Commissioner Dominic Chilcott was summoned last morning to the Foreign Ministry to express the Government’s displeasure at some comments made by him at a recent public gathering.

At last morning’s meeting Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohana drew attention to the High Commissioner’s comment: “I am not saying that the political aspiration for Eelam is illegitimate,” and expressed the Government’s deep concern.

Dr. Kohona stated that this statement was of particular concern to the Government given the British Government’s categorical rejection of the creation of a separate State in Sri Lanka.

Additionally, at a time when the painstaking process of evolving a negotiated political settlement was under way, such sentiments would have a negative impact and send confusing signals. He also expressed disappointment that such statement was made at a particularly politically sensitive time in the country.

The British High Commissioner categorically confirmed that UK does not support in any way the establishment of a separate State in Sri Lanka, neither did he personally. The British High Commissioner by way of explanation stated that what he meant was that political aspirations could be expressed through legitimate methods, just as much as the aspirations of independence for Yorkshire.

The Foreign Secretary also stated that there was no substantiation of the allegation made that relatives of TNA members had been abducted.

The law enforcement authorities had advised that preliminary investigation had not revealed any basis for these allegations which seemed to follow a familiar pattern. Upholding the rule of law was among the Government’s foremost priorities, he said.

Such allegations have the potential to be used and manipulated by interested parties in the current political situation.

The High Commissioner agreed that the Government had the right to take measures within the law to confront the terrorist threat posed by the LTTE.

He said he was impressed with the ready acceptance of the supremacy of the legal process evidenced by the deference demonstrated by the law enforcement authorities to the recent rulings of the Supreme Court.

He also stated that political opposition unit be consistent with the legal framework of the country.