Apropos the news item, ‘British MPs to confront MR over death of British tourist Khuram Shaikh’ on our front page yesterday, by Dean Nelson, South Asia Editor, the Telegraph Group, London, Foreign Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama has sent us the following statement: A delegation of the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is currently in Sri Lanka, and includes MP Simon Danczuk from Rochdale, hometown of Khuram Shaikh, who was killed in Tangalle in December 2011. The case is pending and was recently transferred to Colombo from Tangalla. Mr. Danczuk is quoted in The Telegraph of 21st July as having said that he will “raise concerns of a cover-up” when he meets President Mahinda Rajapaksa.”

Many foreign dignitaries and officials have visited Sri Lanka recently and such visits were facilitated by the Government so that they can witness first-hand developments that have taken place in the Island following the end of the conflict. According to the External Affairs Ministry, when foreign delegations request to visit, the Ministry facilitates the respective diplomatic Mission in drawing up a suitable programme, particularly appointments with Government, subject to the availability of the Ministers and officials concerned. For any visiting delegate below the level of a Head of State/Government, a meeting with the President would be a privilege, as it would not be in keeping with accepted diplomatic protocol and is unthinkable in western countries.Hence talking to the media about the issues that he will raise with the Head of State even before such a meeting is scheduled is totally inappropriate.

The British MP talks of “concerns of a cover-up” with regard to the murder which is a prejudgment of a case that is still pending in Courts. The Government has condemned the murder of Khuram Shaikh and stated its commitment to punish the perpetrators and the process is underway. In such a context, the statement by Mr. Danczuk is pure speculation. During a previous visit of the MP with the brother of Khuram Shaikh, he met the CID which is leading the investigation as well as the Secretary of the Justice Ministry. During the present visit, the delegation will meet Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Ministers G.L.Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Basil Rajapaksa while Mr. Danczuk will have a separate meeting with Minister Rauf Hakeem. The delegation will also meet the Leader of the Opposition, members of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group and Secretary Defence.

Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)