Matthew Russell Lee, an Inner City Press blogger covering the United Nations, is a longstanding critic of the Rajapaksa administration and continues to badger both the Sri Lanka mission and UN spokesman Martin Nesirky firing a volley of questions virtually every day -- relating mostly to allegations of war crimes and human rights violations by the government and the country's armed forces.
The initial blast against Lee came from former Deputy Permanent Representative Bandula Jayasekera last May when he wrote a hard-hitting letter to Lee in which he said that "many believe that you are a disgrace to all respected bloggers. What you know best is to insult and discredit people and small third world countries." (read: Sri Lanka)
On Friday, the Sri Lanka mission reacted angrily once again -- this time throwing more punches at Lee for his persistent questions relating to the election of Deputy Permanent Representative Shavendra Silva, whom he described as "an alleged war criminal", to the Secretary-General's advisory Panel on Peacekeeping Operations.
In a letter to Lee, the mission said: "We are appalled that you continue to rely on misinterpretations, misrepresentations and unsubstantiated accusations to cast aspersions on a member of the staff of this mission. I wonder if this is your effort to emulate Goebbels - even a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth."
The letter also accuses him of lying. "As for the remarks in your article dated February 8, 2012 regarding Ambassador Silva's lawsuit, it appears that you intentionally or negligently tried to mislead the public by stating a blatant falsehood. For your own edification, the case against Ambassador Silva was dismissed on February 8, 2012 by the District Court of New York."
The letter was also copied to UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky and UN Correspondents' Association (UNCA) President Giampaolo Pioli.
Will Lee respond? There are no signs so far.
Nonis changes from tail-coat to tunic
Here is how a statement from the Sri Lanka High Commission in Britain describes what the High Commissioner did on National Day.
It said: "…..Dr Chris Nonis called on Britain to replenish the tremendous reservoir of goodwill it has with Sri Lanka, stemming from the antecedent history between the two countries.
He articulated that both our countries have a rich and varied plurality of economic, cultural, and linguistic traditions, and we should draw more deeply on the strength of our shared heritage, harness our collective strengths, and leverage on our commonalities."
Of course, this time, as the picture above reveals, Dr. Nonis did not draw on the customary British tradition of wearing a top hat and tail coat. He did so when he went to see Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to present his credentials. Of course that attire matched the horse-drawn carriages of yore and the attire others wore.
For the national day, however, Dr. Nonis had shed the Western attire and was in a tunic.
Heated argument between President and Vasu
Last Wednesday night's weekly cabinet meeting saw a heated exchange of words between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and National Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara.
It came when Nanayakkara raised issue over the Parliament's Petitions Committee, one which entertains public complaints. He said it should be activated.
Rajapaksa noted that lethargy had set in and the system did not work well. However, Nanayakkara was insistent that activation would further empower Parliament.
She fails the test, but waltzes to Vienna
The talking point in the corridors of the External Affairs Ministry is how the young lassie laughed all her way to Vienna. She has got a posting there though she failed the qualifying examination.
She has worked only a year and a half at the EAM under a senior official. Postings for lassies that are stenos outside the qualifying examination are taboo. But who cares? The question now is whether the bigger boss or the junior sent her. After all, a success at the qualifying examination notwithstanding, she had all the other right qualifications.
"What for the tellin," remarked an EAM type emulating one of his bosses known for many a gaffe with the English language.
Battle for top post at EAM
A succession tussle is raging at the Foreign Office, according to insiders watching the fun from outside the ring.
They say if the incumbent is backed by a formidable faction of senior officials at the palace, so the aspirant is clinging to the ears of a monitor that matters. Interesting enough, the political boss in charge has been assigning the aspirant to attend many a function much to the anger of the incumbent.
The incumbent believes he will stay and ordered himself a Rs. 9 million Montero vehicle, but the heir-apparent might as well chuckle it will be hers before long.
It was only last year, his predecessor purchased a Toyota car for Rs 4.5 million. That car had not run 10,000 kilometres when the bureaucrat took charge.
Tigers left to freeze in Berlin
 |
Picture shows the National Flag being hoisted by Ambassador Sarath Kongahage at the Sri Lanka
Embassy premises in Berlin. |
Unlike past years, Tiger guerrilla supporters in Berlin found it difficult to mar the annual National Day celebrations by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Berlin.
When the National Flag was hoisted and the ceremony was under way, the groups were kept a long distance away. The police had formed a cordon around the embassy premises.
It was a worse encounter for the group to stay in minus five temperature, far far away from the embassy precincts.
Guess who came and did not come to dinner!
The Sri Lanka Mission to the UN is perhaps one of the few key overseas missions which pulled off a double header on national day last week. A splendid cultural show organized by the mission was attended by hundreds of expatriates living in the tri-state area: New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
And three days later, the mission hosted a reception/dinner to the UN diplomatic community where ambassadors, senior UN officials, delegates and UN correspondents relished the Sri Lankan food, including rice, noodles, chicken and fish curries, dhal, brinjals, patties, cutlets and watalapam for dessert.
The food was catered by Sigiri restaurant, a popular eatery in New Jersey. The only person conspicuous by his absence was Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who opted to send his Chief of Staff Vijay Nambiar as a substitute.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, our High Commissioner hosted a reception at his residence. It was attended by more than 800 people -- foreign diplomats based in Delhi, senior Indian government officials, almost all Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of External Affairs and media personnel. What was interesting (intriguing?) was the presence of the Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai who does not generally attend National/Independence Day functions of foreign countries.
It was obviously a considered decision and perhaps a positive sign of ever-improving ties between the two neighbouring countries. Whether this upswing signifies a new found admiration for Sri Lanka or respect and friendship towards the High Commissioner is anybody's guess.
They are digging in for the DIG stakes
There are more chiefs than injuns, said a senior Police officer commenting on the increase in the cadres of Deputy Inspectors General of Police.
Now, 58 senior police officers have been interviewed to fill 22 vacant slots. The top brass are waiting with bated breath to see who makes it and who will complain or go behind politicians to complain of injustice done.
|
E-mail