Lankan politicians

UK-based pro-LTTE groups demand

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London -February 22, 2014, 7:04 pm 

Pro-LTTE Tamils in the UK are pushing for a travel ban and the freezing of assets of Sri Lankan government politicians. If they succeed, Sri Lankan parliamentarians may not be able to travel to the UK and perhaps, even to Europe.

This development has emerged in the backdrop of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s proposed visit to Glasgow in Scotland in July to attend the 2014 Commonwealth Games. As the President is the current Chairperson of the Commonwealth, he will be the chief guest at the Commonwealth Games. 

Pro-LTTE groups are already drawing plans for a big protest in the event President Rajapaksa arrives in Glasgow. British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, John Rankin, in a recent statement, said is the British Government will allow any peaceful demonstration.

In December 2010, President Rajapaksa’s speech at the Oxford University had to be cancelled due to pro-LTTE protests. 

These elements sympathetic towards the LTTE are also pushing the British government to call for an independent international investigation on Sri Lanka and bring war crime charges against the government. They are being helped by Conservative MP for Ilford North, Lee Scott and Labour MP for Mitcham & Morden, Siobhain McDonagh. 

Meanwhile, Conservative Friends of Sri Lanka (CFSL) says that they have met with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials and were assured that no draft resolution has been agreed for the UNHRC meeting. 

"FCO has confirmed that there is no British intention to impose any travel ban or asset seizure on Sri Lankan officials", CFSL said.