Govt. vehemently condemns British HC’s speech - Jeyaraj

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday told Parliament the Government vehemently condemn the speech made by British High Commissioner Dominick Chilcott at the Dudley Senanayake commemorative ceremony.

The Minister was responding to a statement made by the JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa on the speech made by the British High Commissioner.

“When we refer the speech made by the British High Commissioner, he still thinks that Sri Lanka is a colony of Britain.

The High Commissioner has attacked Parliamentarians by using the Dudley Senanayake commemorative ceremony,” he said.

The Minister said the cross over of the MPs for money first began during the regime of Dudley Senanayake, Mangala Samaraweera’s father Mahanama Samaraweera together with another 14 MPs toppled, then SLFP Government on December 03, 1964, but Chilcott may not be aware on these past incidents.

“We should remember the British High Commissioner on how the UNP Government deported the then British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka David Gladstone based on an incident where the former High Commissioner had entered a polling station at Dikwella during an election,” he said.

The Minister said as the present Government does not take such decisions, they are trying to interfere with the internal political affairs of the Government.

Fernandopulle quoting a statement made by the British High Commissioner to the Asian Tribune Website said the High Commissioner in this statement by justifying the activities conducted by the LTTE.

The Minister said “we should resolve the internal problems of our country with the help of our people. We would like to tell the British High Commissioner not to interfere with the internal problems of our country”.

JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa said the British High Commissioner is engaging in a role which is not entitled to him. But the Foreign Ministry has not questioned the High Commissioner regarding the statement made by him. This undiplomatic tradition should be stopped.

Weerawansa said this kind of moves cannot be stopped by just only condemning them. This High Commissioner is due to complete his tenure here in January next year. Therefore, a new High Commissioner will replace him. But we should tell them, Sri Lanka is not their colony to act according to their whims and fancies.