PRESS RELEASE

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the attack on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ambassador Ibrahim Ansar, and the chief monk of a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Sentul,  Ven. Sri Saranan. This dastardly act has no parallel in the diplomatic history of Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Ansar is a veteran career diplomat who has served in various capacities in Sri Lankan foreign missions for over 20 years. It is regrettable that a friendly country, Malaysia, could not provide diplomatic protection that Malaysia has pledged to undertake.

Ambassador Ansar came under attack by suspected LTTE sympathizers when he escorted Minister Daya Gamage, Deputy Minister Anoma Gamage and Joint Opposition Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena to the airport to send off the VIPs. The Sri Lankan dignitaries were leaving after attending the international conference of Asian political parties held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Malaysian Government has the responsibility under international law to protect visiting foreign dignitaries and resident foreign diplomats in their country. Special units of the country’s police force usually protect travelling foreign dignitaries, and Special Forces may protect former heads of state, defense officials and other VIPs.

It is a matter of serious concern that the Malaysian Government has failed to protect Sri Lanka’s envoy to Malaysia.

We call upon the Government of Malaysia to immediately arrest the perpetrators who have scarred the excellent relationship that Malaysia and Sri Lanka have enjoyed and ensure that maximum punishment as per the laws of Malaysia are enforced

N M Ameen

President

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka