Anupa Pasqual says he was not late for the meeting with South Korean Official,

• The Minister also thanked the media for the free publicity given to him

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual yesterday denied media reports claiming that he had attended a meeting with a senior Korean official 30 minutes late and maintained that he had begun the meeting at the scheduled time.  

Pasqual, who came under immense criticism after South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) President Cho Sung Lea slammed Sri Lankan ministers for not being punctual, said the meeting on Wednesday was scheduled to begin at 9.30 am but it was the media who was invited to arrive at 9 am.”The head table was filled by 9.30 am. It was the media who was informed to arrive at 9 am so they could prepare. Therefore none of us are at fault and neither did we arrive late for the meeting. We have taken a decision to start all our work on time hereon,” the State Minister justified. Pasqual who was expected to lodge a complaint at the CID yesterday at 1.50 p.m. against social media reports which he claimed had tarnished his image after the Korean official slammed Sri Lankan ministers for not being punctual, said that he did not appear at the CID as he wanted to attend the press briefing instead. He said the Korean official Lea had also decided to hold a media briefing yesterday and after seeing its outcome, he would visit the CID and the IGP today to lodge a complaint. 

The Minister also thanked the media for the free publicity given to him.  

• It was the media who was informed to arrive at 9 am so they could prepare. Therefore none of us are at fault and neither did we arrive late for the meeting