President braved unruly protests
Monitoring MP for External Affairs Ministry Sajin de Vasz Gunewardene
yesterday questioned whether Sri Lanka could afford to remain passive in
the face of repeated diaspora threats.
He was referring to the latest episode where some LTTE supporters
engaged in unruly protests in London during the President's recent
visit.
Speaking to the media Gunewardene said, "the predominant positive
aspect of President's visit to UK is that he went ahead with it despite
being aware of the obstacles that would be posed by sections of the
diaspora."
He described such disruptive elements as a threat to the well-being
of the British state and its democratic system.
Speaking on the same matter Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge
said the London Police had given assurances in writing that it was safe
for the President to conduct his address at 'Marlborough House'.
"I feel the British authorities did not realize the disruptive
capability of the unruly elements of the diaspora until then. Tiger
flags were everywhere in a very aggressive way. Two diaspora members
managed to slip past security cordon and attempted to find their way
towards the President" he said. Sri Lanka High Commissioner to UK,
DR.Chris Nonis and Foreign Secretary Karunatilake Amunugama too attended
the interaction with the media.
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