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Colombo draws flak for making Indian high commissioner wait

The Sri Lankan parliament yesterday criticised the government for keeping Indian High Commissioner-designate Shivshankar Menon "waiting" to present his credentials.

Former state minister for foreign affairs John Amaratunga said Menon, who arrived in the island two weeks ago to take up his new assignment, had still not had the opportunity to present his credentials.

"I don't know why the high commissioner of our neighbour is treated like this," he said while participating in a budgetary debate.

"This is deliberately done just to spite the Indian government," he charged.

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, however, dismissed the United National Party leader's criticism as a ''non-issue''.

"There is no impediment to his (Menon's) functioning as the high commissioner due to the non-presentation of credentials," he told the media.

He, however, agreed that Menon would not be able to attend State functions until he presented the credentials, which was to take place on Thursday but was cancelled.

Amaratunga contrasted the present government's handling of relations with India with that of the previous UNP government. He noted that then Indian high commissioner in Colombo, J N Dixit, presented his credentials to then president J R Jayawardene the day after his arrival on the island, even though relations between the two countries were very strained at that time.

UNI

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