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Passport left in toilet: Dark moon for Lankan MPs
View(s):A group of Sri Lankan parliamentarians missed the opening day of an Inter-faith conference in South Korea after one MP left her passport in the Seoul International airport toilet and the delegation was not allowed entry into the country.
The group of 17 MPs had arrived in Seoul to attend the International Conference of Parliamentarians for Peace, an event sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation run by the widow of the late Rev. Sun Moon. On arrival, Matale District Parliamentarian Rohini Wijeratne used the facilities at the airport and forgetfully left her passport there. It was later retrieved by staff of the Sri Lankan embassy in Seoul after they had been called in to assist the detained Sri Lankan delegation, but the delay meant that the delegation had to miss the opening day’s deliberations and the formal welcome banquet.
The MPs were from the UNP, the UPFA, and the TNA. The Universal Peace Federation was founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon in 2005. Its website says the UPF is an “international and interreligious network of individuals and organisations, including representatives from religion, government, civil society and the private sector, is dedicated to achieving world peace”.
The Sri Lankan MPs were hosted to a joint birthday celebration of the founder and his wife at a massive stadium with 30,000 other followers. They also had a private dinner later with Mrs. Moon at her palatial residence.
The MPs who are on this delegation are;
Anoma Gamage, Gamini Lokuge, C.B. Ratnayake, Tushitha Wijemanne, Shanthi Sri Skandarasa, Rohini Wijeratne, Sisira Jayakody, D.V. Chanaka, Hesha Withanage, Janaka Vakakumbura, Shean Semesinghe, Thenuka Vithanagamage, K.K. Masthan, Kavinda Jayawardene, Bandula Bandarigoda, Wijepala Hettiarachchi and L.A. Wijemanne.