UK Snubs Sri Lanka Over Visa Requests For President Maithripala Sirisena’s son Daham Sirisena – President Orders News Blackout
Posted on March 22nd, 2016
Sri Lanka Diplomatic News
Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chitranganee Wagiswara summoned Laura Davies, Deputy UK High Commissioner in Sri Lanka to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to lodge a strong protest on behalf of the government and the President as to why the request of President Maithripala Sirisena’s son Daham and his three friends to travel to UK was subject to long delays. In Return. this personal protest received the biggest diplomatic snub and a strong telling off from UK officials.
Deputy UK High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Ms Laura Davies has challenged the Sri Lanka government’s claim and emphasised the proper procedures have not been followed. At first, Daham Sirisena’s application together with the ones from his friends have been sent to the British High Commission with only a request note by the Chief of Protocol M.R. Hassen. It was only after they asked for documentation some were forwarded.
Besides, One applicant had been debarred from entering the United Kingdom five years ago for forwarding false documentation. The British diplomat has said it was not the right of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand visas for third parties without proper documentation in keeping with UK laws.The issue of visas were at the sole discretion of the UK government.
Meanwhile President Sirisena, who speaks of press freedom, apparently telephoned newspaper editors and proprietors to request them not to print any news report in this regard as he was unaware about the son’s matter.
However,the President Sirisena told a meeting of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress in Kalmunai this week that there was media freedom in Sri Lanka now and the media could report on anything without fear or favour. There is no difference between the present and the past governments and he himself is responsible for preventing the wrong doings of his son being exposed. In fact President Sirisena is turning out to be much worst in suppressing adverse news about him and his family.
March 22nd, 2016 at 3:16 pm
I hope they give these a idiots permenent visas so that they will never return back to Sri Lanka. He is welcome to take his father and the gay master as well!!
March 22nd, 2016 at 8:06 pm
One of so call friend is black listed by UK border authority for giving false documents before..
March 22nd, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Looks like all is not well as they claim to be !!!
March 22nd, 2016 at 9:12 pm
Thanks, for the person who published this comedy act on Lanka web. What about his son’s travel to USA?
March 23rd, 2016 at 2:30 am
May be the British High Commissioner wants Sira to kiss his un gloved hand and ar.e as well to give his son a visa.
March 24th, 2016 at 1:40 am
President Maithripala Sirisena’s son Daham and his three friends to travel to UK was subject to long delays. UK Visa officer should check whether any of these 3 friends who participated famous naked show at the Passikudda beach near hotel “Malu Malu” before 2015 elections. Also consider how then Health Minister Sira patch- up with DIG.