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Diplomatic
row with Canada over disrobing of monks deepens Ottawa has summoned Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Ottawa to the Foreign Office seeking clarification on a statement made by Cabinet spokesman Mangala Samaraweera that the Foreign Ministry in Colombo had lodged its protest to the Canadian mission over the disrobing of three monks. Last Sunday the Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo, Valerie Raymond, obtained an appointment with Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar to explain her government’s position on the incident which forced the closure of the mission temporarily a fortnight ago. The Sunday Times learns that the Foreign Minister had advised her to seek the guidance of the Foreign Office in Colombo when faced with such delicate issues rather than to have gone direct to the local police for instructions as she had done. The Canadian mission opened for business this week after a week long closure following the anthrax scare created after the Mission’s visa officers found powder in the passports of two student monks. They had sprinkled the powder to prevent the passport being attacked by insects. The local monk who accompanied the two Bangladeshi student monks had offered to sniff or taste the powder. All three monks were forced to disrobe, and have a shower. They were also given the choice of taking a swim in the Mission’s swimming pool. Meanwhile the Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya, a JHU backed Bhikku movement, said it would stage a protest in front of the mission shortly. |
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