By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the European Union , Ravinatha Aryasinha, has strongly protested what he said if the denial of Sri Lanka’s “right of reply” at an exchange of views on Sri Lanka held last week at the European Parliament.
In a letter of protest addressed to Ms. Heidi Hautala, Chair of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament who was not present during the discussion, Aryasinha pointed out that in the over one hour long discussion on Sri Lanka on 6 December, of the 32 MEPs on the Sub-Committee only one chose to speak, and other than for a few comments by the European Commission, most of the time was given to a number of Non-Governmental Organizations.
The letter was released to the press here today.
In his letter Aryasinah said despite his being present and demanding Sri Lanka’s “right of reply”, its denial by the Presiding officer at the time, “leaves the unmistakable impression that the Human Rights Sub-Committee is not interested in having a reasoned and balanced discussion on Sri Lanka, but is merely content to allow itself (the European Parliament) to be used as a platform for LTTE apologists to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka”.
Last week during the full sessions of the European Parliament held in the French city of Strasbourg, Aryasinha addressed the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ of the European Parliament – a cross party group which comprises 25 MEPs from over 10 EU member countries, drew attention to this issue, and urged them to prevail upon European institutions and their respective home governments “to prevent efforts by LTTE apologists to seek to discredit Sri Lanka, which having overcome its 30 year long struggle against LTTE terrorism, is now firmly embarked on a path of reconciliation and development”.
He said “it would be a mistake if European Institutions and member states allow rump LTTE cadres and other LTTE apologists to dictate foreign policy towards Sri Lanka”.
Addressing the group, the Chairman of the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, who called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa in London recently and attended a briefing given to Members of the British Parliament and Members of the European Parliament by Rajapaksa , informed the group of the discussion he had with the President.
Van Orden said the ‘riends of Sri Lanka’ is advocating that full benefit of the post war development should be enjoyed by the people of Sri Lanka and that to this end the EU should play a prominent role.