(March 16, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Questions are being raised in the British Tamils circles about the desperate attempt made by the Sri Lankan government to specifically invite the British opposition Conservative Member of Parliament and shadow British Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox to discuss about the current military and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
Dr Liam Fox’s visit comes at the time Sri Lankan government is in a confrontational mood with the British government over the appointment of Rt Hon Des Browne MP as its special envoy for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government took exception over British government’s unilateral decision on the appointment without any consultations and the British Foreign Secretary countered and justified that consultation had taken place. Sri Lanka vehemently opposed any engagement of the British government.
To rebuke the British government, Sri Lanka went out of the way to invite Dr Liam Fox as a special guest to come to its side to prop up its war efforts against the LTTE.
In 1996 due to Dr Liam Fox’s initiative, a bi-partisan agreement was reached between the government and the opposition United National Party. This effort is well known as Liam Fox initiative. This agreement came to an end with the election of President Mahinda Rajapase when he bought over UNP members to his side.
Dr Liam Fox’s comments have been reported in a limited way in the constrained Sri Lanka media. All the indication given in the government propped up media is that Dr Fox did not deal with humanitarian issues facing in the civilians in the north and did not articulate on the need for a bipartisan agreement to reach consensus between the government and the opposition UNP to find a lasting political resolution to the long standing ethnic conflict.
In view of the constrained news reporting in Sri Lanka on his visit, it is widely expected Dr Liam Foxes office in the House of Commons will issue a press statement on the outcome of his visit. It is alleged that Dr Fox’s visit has undermined the British government position on Sri Lanka and that he did not firmly impress of his government’s stand on Sri Lanka with the President Mahinda Rajapakse. -Sri Lanka Guardian
Home Unlabelled Is Dr Liam Fox visit skulduggery of the Sri Lankan government?
Is Dr Liam Fox visit skulduggery of the Sri Lankan government?
By Sri Lanka Guardian • March 16, 2009 • • Comments : 1
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Sir,
I refer to your news item titled “Is Dr. Fox visit skulduggery of the Sri Lankan Government?” which appeared on your website on March 15, 2009.
Your news item attempts to convey that the visit of Dr. Fox was a desperate move by the Government of Sri Lanka. We wish to inform the general public through your website that it is extremely unfortunate that your website has endeavoured to mislead the public. The visit by Dr. Fox was an initiative by himself and the Government has accepted his desire to visit Sri Lanka to engage in a constructive dialogue.
In a modern day diplomacy and conduct of inter-state relations are constituted of frequent exchange of visits and thereby getting to know people who matters and to understand the sensitivities of issues involved.
The vibrancy of bilateral relations is always portrayed by the frequencies of such visits. These visits are undertaken in a more transparent manner allowing the visitors to engage in an open dialogue and exchange of views.
The Government of Sri Lanka as in the past continues to encourage such visits and the Government of Sri Lanka does not harbour any hidden agenda.
Kapila Fonseka
First Secretary
High Commission of Sri Lanka
London
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