President raises unofficial concerns with Colombo based diplomats over statements
23 July 2022 11:25 am
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- Diplomats were briefed by the President on the military operations conducted to clear the protestors from the Presidential Secretariat area, but the diplomats were requested to check with the authorities as well to clarify matters when making statements in the future
- President Wickremesinghe in a light tone asked some of the diplomats if protestors could illegally occupy the President's Office in their respective countries
- He informed them that the protestors had been informed to vacate the area by 6 am yesterday but the protestors had refused and instead provided an alternative time which was not accepted by the authorities
By JAMILA HUSAIN
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday evening invited the Colombo based diplomats to the President's Office during which unofficial concerns were raised over their statements released over the operation carried out by the security forces to clear the Presidential Secretariat area.
The Daily Mirror learns that the diplomats were briefed by the President on the military operations conducted to clear the protestors from the Presidential Secretariat area, but the diplomats were requested to check with the authorities as well to clarify matters when making statements in the future.
During the meeting which was also attended by the IGP and Foreign Ministry officials, President Wickremesinghe in a light tone asked some of the diplomats if protestors could illegally occupy the President's Office in their respective countries.
He requested them that if statements were to be released in the future, authorities were available to clarify any queries rather than seeing only what was available on social media.
President Wickremesinghe had briefed the diplomats over the military operation and informed them that protestors continued to occupy the area despite a court order and they continued to occupy the Presidential Secretariat illegally.
He informed them that the protestors had been informed to vacate the area by 6 am yesterday but the protestors had refused and instead provided an alternative time which was not accepted by the authorities.
President Wickremesinghe also requested the diplomats to check with the relevant officials when making statements, as statements based on social media reports alone could damage Sri Lanka's image globally, especially at a time when Sri Lanka needed assistance from friendly nations to recover from the economic crisis.