Visas were issued to a high level IBAHRI delegation by the Sri Lankan Government August 28, the Institute’s Senior Programme Lawyer Alex Wilks told Colombo Telegraph, although the Government has denied issuing and revoking visas for the delegation as a ‘gross misinterpretation’.
Alex Wilks
“We are now being prevented from entering the country,” Wilks said.
More importantly, Wilks said, the real question is, why does the Government of Sri Lanka want to block a conference on Commonwealth values and the rule of law during the Commonwealth Summit.
Wilks said it would have been a great opportunity for leading international experts, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, CHOGM participants and the Sri Lankan legal profession to discuss these important issues. “Unfortunately, this is just another example of the Government of Sri Lanka clamping down on debate that it cannot control,’ he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs said visas were sought mid-August 2013 by two applicants from the IBA to participate in a seminar jointly organized by it and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka from 13 – 15 November 2013, the Sri Lanka High Commission in London was informed two weeks later, under intimation to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the inability to facilitate the visas as requested, considering that the organizers of this event had not followed the due process of obtaining concurrence of the Ministry of External Affairs with regard to hosting of seminars/conferences with international participation. A request for concurrence should set out briefly the objectives of the event, a list of participating States/Organisations and any assistance required to be given from the Ministry of External Affairs by way of facilitating visas, protocol assistance etc.
The Ministry said that furthermore the Seminar had been scheduled to be held during the CHOGM 2013 week in Colombo. It was further clarified that during this period all the required resources will be fully utilised, resulting in practical difficulties in the conduct of any events with international participation, particularly with regard to the security and logistical aspects which would entail road closures, non-availability of hotels and accommodation facilities etc. “It was further informed to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London that a decision had been taken to embargo the scheduling of visits and such events, during the period 20th October – 20th November 2013,” the statement said.
The Ministry it is therefore evident that the requirement of visas to visit Sri Lanka did not arise, as there was no necessity since the event could not be scheduled, due to the stated circumstances. It is abundantly clear that the organisers had the option of rescheduling their event outside this timeframe.
Park / November 8, 2013
This is not the first time this type of things have happened. Once before a Canadian politician Bob Rae who was involved with Sri Lankan democratic organizations was given a visa and was held at the airport and sent back. But at the same time Got-a-baya gave a bogus forged passport to Karuna to enter UK. All of us know that Sri Lankan government has no shame and is truly converting Sri Lanka to a Paraya state.
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Kapila / November 9, 2013
The Sri Lanka Army has assigned over 1,600 troops to serve as Liaison Officers to the heads of state and other delegates attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next week!
Colombo streets are today swamped with police and military and Civil society and in a virtual lock down (just as Jaffna is usually) for the Commonwealth DEMOCRACY SHOW! So much for the Commonwealth of Nation’s proclaimed CORE VALUES of Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of law and space for democratic debate and dissent!
Meanwhile the Biggest SPINNER of them all Ranil Wickramasinghe so-called opposition leader has jaunted off overseas as the UNP licks its self-inflicted wounds – rather than organizing a massive joint opposition PROTEST to tell the world the truth about Rajapassa. Same as he did when Shiranee Bandaranaiyake the CJ was illegally impeach.
Guess the Lankan tax payer and Rajapassa is paying for Ranil’ overseas trip!
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Max Silva / November 9, 2013
Let me be very clear.We will not allow trouble makers to enter the country.Instead they ought to go to afganistan,Libya,Egypt to poke their dirty noses.
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Thiru / November 11, 2013
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Won’t they like to cover up genocide taking place?
Martin Vickers, Conservative MP, UK:
Clearly there has been genocide taken place in Sri Lanka and the International Community needs to take the issue much more seriously and investigations should take place.
Source a video clip in English, above is a transcript by me from:
http://www.tamilwin.com/show-RUmrzBSVMZit7.html
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pujitha / November 8, 2013
GL Peiris is a real mutt and he will do anything and utter any rubbish statements as long as his private interests are duly secured. In short this man is a insult to the entire learned community that the Country produced.
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Tolco / November 8, 2013
According to my understanding, Dr G. L. Peiris is a high ranking intellectual, was Professor of Law at the University of Colombo, and blessed with an abundance of hereditary wealth. There is no need for him to allow himself to be assfkd by any paraya dog. He is eminently qualified, socially, intellectually and financially, to take a principled stand against the total injustice foisted on the country. He does not need any favors from any one. This is why he must be considered a pervert for wanting, yearning, to enjoy the public humiliation inflicted on him by the ruling goons.
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demon silva / November 9, 2013
it is GL peris’s choice to be treated like this. Remember hen crossed over from UNP. He is a real MODAYA there is no two words about that.
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Levi / November 9, 2013
No he is not a mutt. He is a cunning eel who pretends to be a mutt for his perks. He does not care.
He knows he has gone beyond all norms. So he says So what? Who cares. The Ship is sinking. I know when to scoot.
Levi
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Chandra Seneviratne / November 9, 2013
I am in full agreement with Pujitha. GL is a pseudo-intellectual. The education has not helped to transform him to be a principled and respectable personality. As Pujitha says he will do anything and utter anything for his personal gain. In academic circles he is considered a jester.
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