Petition to condemn the recent refusal of a visa to UK for Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona
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Dr. Peter Hayes - British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka
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Petition to be sent to British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Dr. Peter Hayes condemning the refusal of a visa to UK for Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and show solidarity to Dr. Palitha Kohona .
The British High Commission in Colombo yesterday refused visas to outgoing Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona and former Deputy Tourism Minister and MP Arjuna Ranatunga, government sources told Daily Mirror last night.
According to well informed sources Dr. Kohona and Mr. Ranatunga had submitted their passports to the British High Commission for a visa to London but to their surprise the passports were returned without any valid reason for turning down their visa applications.
The Foreign Ministrys Chief of Protocol, through whom Dr. Kohonas passport was forwarded to the British High Commission, later sought an explanation for returning the passport but a High Commission official had reportedly told the Foreign Office that the Foreign Secretary should be personally present at the High Commission to obtain the visa.
However the Foreign Ministry had insisted that Dr. Kohona had no reason to be personally present at the High Commission to obtain the visa as he was the Foreign Secretary of the Country.
The Foreign Ministry had later again sought a visa to London for the Foreign Secretary, but the second attempt too was rejected with the High Commission saying there was not enough time to process the visa.
We are of the view the British High Commission had violated diplomatic protocols by rejecting a visa for the Foreign Secretary and feel this had further strained relations between Britain and Sri Lanka.
Government sources said Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was expected to summon the British High Commissioner Dr. Peter Hayes today to seek an explanation over the visa rejection, particularly to the Foreign Secretary.
Earlier Attorney General Mohan Peiris was also inconvenienced by the British High Commission which asked him to appear in person for an interview to grant a visa.
The British High Commission in Colombo yesterday refused visas to outgoing Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona and former Deputy Tourism Minister and MP Arjuna Ranatunga, government sources told Daily Mirror last night.
According to well informed sources Dr. Kohona and Mr. Ranatunga had submitted their passports to the British High Commission for a visa to London but to their surprise the passports were returned without any valid reason for turning down their visa applications.
The Foreign Ministrys Chief of Protocol, through whom Dr. Kohonas passport was forwarded to the British High Commission, later sought an explanation for returning the passport but a High Commission official had reportedly told the Foreign Office that the Foreign Secretary should be personally present at the High Commission to obtain the visa.
However the Foreign Ministry had insisted that Dr. Kohona had no reason to be personally present at the High Commission to obtain the visa as he was the Foreign Secretary of the Country.
The Foreign Ministry had later again sought a visa to London for the Foreign Secretary, but the second attempt too was rejected with the High Commission saying there was not enough time to process the visa.
We are of the view the British High Commission had violated diplomatic protocols by rejecting a visa for the Foreign Secretary and feel this had further strained relations between Britain and Sri Lanka.
Government sources said Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was expected to summon the British High Commissioner Dr. Peter Hayes today to seek an explanation over the visa rejection, particularly to the Foreign Secretary.
Earlier Attorney General Mohan Peiris was also inconvenienced by the British High Commission which asked him to appear in person for an interview to grant a visa.
234 Signatures
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Senaka
- Comments
- Very undiplomatic
- Location (State/Country)
- New York, USA
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Shiron Samarasinghe
- Comments
- Wish UK has better things to do
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wpk lakmal weerakkody
- Comments
- it should be approve..
- Location (State/Country)
- haity
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Jim Luce
- Comments
- This is absurd -- and embarassing to the U.K.
- Location (State/Country)
- New York, N.Y. U.S.A.
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VC Munindradasa
- Comments
- Set Examples Correct.
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Don Algama
- Comments
- Shameless Act by the British H C
- Location (State/Country)
- California/ USA
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Sunil Herath
- Comments
- This is very unfair
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Manoli Jinadasa
- Comments
- This is a bullying tactic orchestrated no doubt by Milliband as punishment for not heeding to their requests and saving terrorists. The entire continent should stand together in the face of these blatant breach of diplomatic etiquette.
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T M G Chandrasekara
- Comments
- condemned
- Location (State/Country)
- srilanka
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Thushara
- Comments
- ..
- Location (State/Country)
- NY, USA
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Nalaka Karunaratne
- Comments
- Support Dr Kohona for his work
- Location (State/Country)
- Sydney, Australia
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David Fernandopillai
- Comments
- Couldn't believe
- Location (State/Country)
- London
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Hemantha Kulatunga
- Comments
- Must condemn the high handed act.
- Location (State/Country)
- Colombo
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Mewan Alwis
- Comments
- If they wants us to allow every dick and harry to come in to our country why can't they allow a senior deplomat like Dr. Palitha Kohona to enter their country.
- Location (State/Country)
- Sri Lanka
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Anna Shen
- Comments
- Your attention to this matter immediately is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
- Location (State/Country)
- NYC
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Tissa Perera
- Comments
- Works two ways
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Sam W. Silva
- Comments
- UK must stop stop bulling developing countries
- Location (State/Country)
- В
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Anjalika Silva
- Comments
- If all the western countries fighting terrorism are bowing down to ProLTTE pressure, they will soon realize that they will be victims too. The LTTE doctrine doesn't have any decency or gratitude. They bite the very hand that feeds them. That is why they killed anyone for the flimsiest reason. The demands will increase and the one time a demand is not met, they will find suicide bombers on the streets of London and Toronto in Canada. They better be careful.
- Location (State/Country)
- USA
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Nalaka Dias
- Comments
- Shame on you, Britians
- Location (State/Country)
- NJ
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Priyantha
- Comments
- Dear Dr. Peter Hayes - The BHC in Sri Lanka - This is not a Diplomatic move.
- Location (State/Country)
- Sri Lanka
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Amila Goonawardena
- Comments
- Petition
- Location (State/Country)
- New York, USA
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Nimanthi Fernando
- Comments
- Petitioning
- Location (State/Country)
- NY, USA
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Tanya DeSilva
- Comments
- You should be honored to have people of Dr. Kohona's calibre visit your country. Shame on you.
- Location (State/Country)
- USA
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M.L.Wickramasinghe
- Comments
- As a former International civil service officer of the United Nations this regrettable action of the British Embassy in Sri Lanka goes counter to all norms of international dilpomatic protocol and traditions.This action is akin to knee jerk impulses of small children at play when they have differences with each other. It is hoped that the British High Commission in Sri Lanka would have the maturity and confidence to change their decision and keep to the highest traditions of international diplomacy which Great Britain had contributed immensely to develop and uphold, despite the current differences of opinion that two sovereign nations Sri Lanka and the United Kngdom entertain on some issues.
- Location (State/Country)
- Sri Lanka
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Ranjith Senanayake
- Comments
- Cannot expect from a country which is committed for Human Rights
- Location (State/Country)
- Sri Lanka
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Chandra Fernando
- Comments
- I am shocked at the level of bias the British government has against the government and people of Sri Lanka. The BBC is also a LTTE infested institution that reports the propaganda of the Pro-LTTE diaspora. recently it broadcast an old clip from an LTTE sympathiser.
- Location (State/Country)
- Maryland, USA
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Uditha
- Comments
- We highly condemn your act of not granting visa to Dr. Palitha Kohona on the influence of false LTTE propaganda
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Estelle Perera
- Comments
- Thank you for your attention to this matter
- Location (State/Country)
- USA
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Kanchana
- Comments
- U.K. - Please stop double standards
- Location (State/Country)
- Pennsylvania/USA
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Kulatilaka
- Comments
- Who the hell do they think they are, lords? Treat them in the same manner. Do not allow them to leave the Colombo city limits without applying for permission. Treat them in the same manner.
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KESARA KUDALUGODAARACHCHI
- Comments
- Strongly condemn the visa refusal
- Location (State/Country)
- PA USA
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Harsha Weerakoon
- Comments
- I condemn the refusal of visa to UK for foreign Secretary and MP Arjuna Ranathunga.
- Location (State/Country)
- New Zealand
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Don
- Comments
- West thinks poordeveloping countries should always listen to them.
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Anuraji
- Comments
- Can't see the point of rejecting a diplomat except other infulence
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Ayla
- Comments
- This from a country that came to our country and stayed there for 100 years violating THEIR visa
- Location (State/Country)
- Sri Lanka
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Vasantha Kumar
- Comments
- Disgraceful
- Location (State/Country)
- Wellington New Zealand
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Chandana Maddumage
- Comments
- I can't believe these Human Rights Champions did something like this,.
- Location (State/Country)
- Manitoba
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praneeth
- Comments
- this is a racist move
- Location (State/Country)
- new zealand
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Niran Pieries
- Comments
- SL should treat all UK citizens in the same manner.
- Location (State/Country)
- New Zealand
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Daniel Muthumala
- Comments
- nil
- Location (State/Country)
- Wellington, New Zealand
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chanda
- Comments
- uk.. ko..
- Location (State/Country)
- korea
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sh brahmana
- Comments
- highly unsatisfactory
- Location (State/Country)
- srilanka western
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Sadun Kithulagoda
- Comments
- This is discriminating
- Location (State/Country)
- New Zealand
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chula rajapakse
- Comments
- Unbeleivable!
- Location (State/Country)
- New Zealand
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deepal
- Comments
- shame on uk
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Wishwa
- Comments
- This is a bad decision
- Location (State/Country)
- New Jersey
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Nimal G. M. Abeysekera
- Comments
- Disgraceful
- Location (State/Country)
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Wagisa Fernando
- Comments
- Disgraceful act!
- Location (State/Country)
- Sri Lanka
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sagara palliyage
- Comments
- this is an at of arrogancy and another way of expressing their post colonial dominancy. Don't be down hearted Dr Kohona, there will be a day so called these developed and poerful countries have kneel down on small countries like us.
- Location (State/Country)
- uk
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Hasaka Ratnamalala
- Comments
- Shame on You
- Location (State/Country)
- Canada
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234
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