Eyewitnesses in Nonis assault incident

Thursday, 02 October 2014 

The UNP has vehemently condemned the Sri Lankan High Commisioner in UK - Chris Nonis being assaulted by a government minister.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the UNP headquarters - Sirikotha yesterday ( 01), UNP Kandy district MP and leadership council member - Lakshman Kiriella condemned the incident.

"The incident had taken place in the presence of the President and officials of the External Affairs Ministry. There are eyewitnesses... As patriotic Sri Lankans, we urge authorities to take legal action over this assault."

"The government is being decorated with medals internationally over the lawlessness prevailing in the country. However, such an incident concerning a diplomat of an overseas mission is unheard of in the past. This arises the question whether a Parliamentarian is able to assault a diplomat," MP Kiriella said.

"Therefore, it should be stated that those who are remaining silent after witnessing the incident too, are wrong. The law should be enforced on them as well, for remaining silent, he added," MP Kiriella added.

Journalists at the media briefing had further questioned the MP whether the law in Sri Lanka included provisions to punish an individual for assaulting a diplomat.

To this, the MP has said, "diplomatic immunity cannot be exercised when it comes to criminal law. This has been proven in the past as well. Also, around 75% of those in Foreign Service are political appointees. They have no idea of diplomatic activities. However, the situation is different in countries such as US and India."

Clarification And Investigation Into Nonis’s Resignation Is Vital: Prof. Wijesinha

October 2, 2014

Clarifications and an investigation into the reports circulating with regard to High Commissioner Nonis’s assault and resignation is a must considering their implication for Sri Lanka’s international relations, UPFA MP and political analyst Professor Rajiva Wijesinha says.

Rajiva Wijesinha MP

Professor Wijesinha, when asked about his opinion on the “Chris Nonis–Sajin Vass episode“, said; “The stories circulating with regard to High Commissioner Nonis’s resignation certainly need investigation as you suggest. What was reported of MinisterKeheliya Rambukwella’s comments on in his resignation suggests confusion and given the implications for our international relations, clarifications are vital.”

He also suggested this incident is in relation to the comments he has made concerning a concerted attempt to remove the most efficient and loyal non-career diplomats in the service and accused External Affairs Ministry Secretary Kshenuka Seneviratne of being behind many of the these attempts.

“There is an attempt to remove efficient and loyal non-career diplomats we have, Dayan in Paris, Tamara in Geneva, Asitha Perera in Rome, Palitha Kohona in New York, and later I believe even Sarath Kongahage in Berlin and Chris Nonis in London. So the alleged reasons for the assault of Chris are interesting, not least because one of these envoys told me some time back thatSajin thinks he runs Kshenuka but the reality is the other way round,” he told Colombo Telegraph.

He went on to state that despite these warning signs, it is unfortunate that the President continues to entrust foreign relations to Senevirathne, Vass and GL Peiris as Sri Lanka is bound to fail if the country’s foreign relations continue to remain in their hands.

“But those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad – and drink can contribute to this, if reports are correct,” he added.