Sri Lanka, India in diplomatic crossfire
A senior Sri Lankan minister’s comment accusing India’s high commissioner in Colombo of interfering in the island nation’s internal matters has invited a sharp retort from India.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: A senior Sri Lankan minister’s comment accusing India’s high commissioner in Colombo of interfering in the island nation’s internal matters has invited a sharp retort from India.
This unseemly row broke out after tourism minister Anura Bandaranaike accused India’s high commissioner Nirupama Rao of interfering in Lankan affairs, saying that Ms Rao should mind her “own business“ The remarks were made in the Lankan Parliament, however, the context was not immediately clear.
The Indian government immediately responded saying that its representatives did not interfere in internal matters of other countries and also said the high commissioner had maintained the “highest professional standards. “
"The pretty Mrs Rao should look after her embassy and we will look after our own internal affairs," Mr Bandaranaike told Parliament, according to Lankan papers. Reliable sources there said the matter would be cleared up when the documentation of what was said in Parliament becomes available.
The minister’s remarks made front page news in Lankan papers with ‘The Island’ headlining the story with “Anura tells Indian HC ‘mind your own business’”, the ‘The Daily Mirror’ had this to say: “Don’t dabble in politics, Anura tells Nirupama“.
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Mr Bandaranaike was further quoted by a Lankan paper as saying that Sri Lanka considered both India and Pakistan as friends but would not let the island nation become a “playground for their fights” and that there should be no interference in its internal affairs. Mr Bandaranaike said both his parents, both past Prime ministers, and his sister, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, had maintained good relations with India, but Mrs Rao should not “meddle“ in Lanka.Mr Bandaranaike also said he was saddened to hear that former Pakistan high commissioner to Sri Lanka, Bashir Wali Mohammad, had claimed that last month’s bomb attack on him was “orchestrated“ by India.
The ministry of external affairs immediately responded saying it is not the policy of the Indian government and its representatives to interfere in the internal matters of any country. “Our high commissioner in Colombo is a senior diplomat and has conducted herself in accordance with the highest professional standards.
Her contribution to strengthen Indo-Sri Lankan bilateral relations is well appreciated by the host government, “ the official spokesperson said. Incidentally, since Mr Shiv Shankar Menon was appointed foreign secretary, speculation has been rife that Mrs Nirupama Rao will be shifted out of Sri Lanka as part of a planned reshuffle. The new foreign secretary has superseded around 15 officers necessitating such a reshuffle in the MEA.
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