'Commonwealth Secretariat should have acted'

Disna MUDALIGE

The Commonwealth Secretariat should have taken some action on the protest by a group of LTTE supporters which led to the cancellation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's speech to the Commonwealth Economic Forum since the LTTE is an organisation proscribed by the British government, Mass Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.

The minister was addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the ministry premises yesterday. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was invited by the British government was given star class treatment with best ever protocols, logistics and security arrangements. He noted that not only President Rajapaksa but four other speakers had to change their agenda following the cancellation of the event.

He said the right to protest and as well as right to speak should have been protected by the Commonwealth Secretariat which organized this forum. He observed that UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella was concerned about debating this incident in the Sri Lankan Parliament.

He should have rather made a request through the British High Commissioner to raise this issue in the British Parliament.

The minister made these comments in response to a question by a journalist.