Due process followed – SL to Swiss

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Friday (18) told Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis that due process has been adhered to at each step, in keeping with international norms respected by both countries regarding the investigations into the Sri Lankan employee of the Swiss Mission.

Minister Gunawardena informed this when he received a telephone call from the Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis on Friday evening regarding the status of the Sri Lankan employee at the Swiss Embassy, Ms. Garnier Banister Francis.

“Foreign Minister Gunawardena emphasised that Sri Lanka has fully complied with national law and international judicial standards and that any assertion to the contrary was factually inaccurate,” the Ministry said in a statement. 

The minister also “detailed the steps taken from the time the incident was first reported, through the presentation of Ms. Francis by the Swiss Embassy to the CID 13 days since the alleged incident, to the present, and emphasised that due process has been adhered to at each step, in keeping with international norms respected by both countries.”

Considering the good bilateral relations between the two countries, the Swiss Minister requested that all possible cooperation be extended to expedite the process.

Noting that Ms. Francis is a Sri Lankan citizen and that the matter was presented in Court, Minister Gunawardena said the Government of Sri Lanka will do whatever it can according to the law of the land. Minister Gunawardena re-affirmed that Ms. Francis has been granted with all possible facilities and that all her rights have been protected.

Referring to the Swiss Foreign Ministry statement on Tuesday (17 December), Foreign Minister Gunawardena emphasised that Sri Lanka has fully complied with national law and international judicial standards and that any assertion to the contrary was factually inaccurate. He detailed the steps taken from the time the incident was first reported, through the presentation of Ms. Francis by the Swiss Embassy to the CID 13 days since the alleged incident, to the present, and emphasized that due process has been adhered to at each step, in keeping with international norms respected by both countries.

Reaffirming the commitment to consolidate bilateral relations, Minister Gunawardena agreed that the Foreign Ministry will continue to engage in further discussions in this regard, with the Swiss Ambassador in Colombo, the statement added.