RANJITH SOYSA

Of late, a few foreign diplomats have attempted to test the Sri Lanka’s response when they almost acted to interfere in purely Sri Lankan domestic issues. They should simply limit themselves to be guided by the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, The article 41.1 of the Convention is very specific how the diplomats should conduct themselves.

Article 41 1.

Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.

2.All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.

3.The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the  sending and the receiving State

Basically , the US ambassador in publishing her comments on Sri Lanka’s internal issue and the Indian High Commissioner in conducting discussions with the TNA on domestic administration issues of Sri Lanka have transgressed the Vienna Convention openly.

We have once upon a time dealt with the former British High Commissioner in the past when he breached the convention. Sri Lankans  await. our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at lease to issue a courteous warning to those who challenge the norms to remind  them of the limits within which they are expected to operate and when they opt to  breach the accepted practices.

RANJITH SOYSA