Donald clarifies after uproar

22 July 2010 03:28 pm Views - 8527

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel Donald Perera says the comments attributed to him in an Israeli newspaper where it was reported that he had said Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel's fight against Palestinian terror, is totally erroneous.

In a letter sent to the Israeli newspaper the Sri Lankan envoy said Sri Lanka always values her friendship with Israel and this aspect will continue to underpin the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

However he noted that at the same time the policy of the Government of Sri Lanka, which it has followed in consistent consonance with the position of the Non-Aligned Movement, is that the question of Palestine and the pursuit of lasting peace in the Middle East must be resolved through a two state solution whereby Israel and  Palestine will co-exist with each other, within secure and intentionally recognized borders.

“Therefore, the contrary view attributed to me in the news item that Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel's fight against Palestinian terror is a totally erroneous rendering of my comments,” he said.

The comments attributed to the Ambassador in the Israeli newspaper created an uproar in Sri Lanka with the Co-President of the Palestine Sri Lanka Friendship Society and Government Minister Ataudha Seneviratne telling Daily Mirror online that no matter what Ambassador Perera had to say, the Sri Lankan government’s stand was to sympathize with the Palestinians and push both sides (Israel and Palestine) for negotiations.

Meanwhile Co-President and Opposition member Imtiyaz Bakeer Markar had said the government should make its stand clear on whether the comment made by Ambassador Perera echoed the sentiments of the Sri Lankan government. (Daily Mirror online)