Lankan protests outside British mission in Colombo

Scores of activists from Sri Lanka's ruling party on Monday staged a protest outside the British High Commission here against the presence of Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr David Miliband, at a conference which they claimed was organised by a pro-LTTE group. Holding placards titled 'puppet Tigers',

'No bullying please', 'down with global Tamil forum and 'hands off Sri Lanka', the protesters denounced Miliband's decision to address a meeting of Tamil expatriates in London last week.

Sri Lankan government has described the Forum as sympathisers of LTTE that was defeated last May following the killing of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in military operations. The activists handed in a petition protesting against Miliband's participation in Tamil conference.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror Online reported that the British High Commission in Colombo has not lodged any complaint over the protest staged in front of its mission despite a well known government ally participating in the demonstration. Sri Lankan foreign Ministry said.

It had not received any communication from the British mission or the party involved in staging the protest and therefore the government too would not respond or comment, the online quoted Ministry sources to say
here.

"This is purely a private protest and has nothing to do with the government. We have also not received any complaints," the website quoted the source at the ministry as saying.

The website said Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition partner, the National Freedom Front participated in the protest in front of the High Commission.

However, when contacted and questioned
if a complaint would be lodged against the protest and the large cutouts portraying Mr Miliband and the Prime Minister, Mr Brown, in LTTE fatigue, spokesperson at the British High Commission Dominic Williams said that
Britain would not make an official comment.

Sri Lankan government last week had protested over Senior British government members attending the event and the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama had also summoned the Acting British High Commissioner in Colombo over the issue.

- Indian Journalist.