British MP’s remarks totally inappropriate: SL

Responding to remarks made by House of Commons MP Simon Danczuk to the media on the ongoing investigations into the killing of British tourist Khuram Shaikh, the Ministry of External Affairs said the comments were totally inappropriate.

The Ministry said the government was committed to punish the perpetrators of the crime. In a media release, the Ministry said the MP’s comments to the media about an unscheduled meeting with the President were uncalled for. “For any visiting delegate below the level of a Head of State or Government, a meeting with the President would be a privilege, as it would not be in keeping with accepted diplomatic protocol and is unthinkable in Western countries. Hence talking to the media about the issues that he will raise with the Head of State even before such a meeting is scheduled is totally inappropriate,” the Ministry said. Responding to the British MP’s allegations of a cover up, the Ministry said the comments were prejudicial since the countries criminal justice system was in progress. “The British MP talks of “concerns of a cover-up” with regard to the murder, which is a prejudgment of a case that is still pending in Courts. The Government has condemned the murder of Khuram Shaikh and stated its commitment to punish the perpetrators and the process is underway. In such a context the statement by Mr. Danczuk is pure speculation. During a previous visit of the MP with the brother of Khuram Shaikh, he met the CID, which is leading the investigation as well as the Justice Ministry Secretary,” The Ministry said the British delegation which includes Mr. Danczuk would not meet the President and instead would meet high ranking government officials. “During the present visit, the delegation will meet Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Ministers G.L. Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Basil Rajapaksa while Mr. Danczuk will have a separate meeting with Minister Rauf Hakeem. The delegation will also meet the Leader of the Opposition, members of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group and Secretary Defence” the Ministry said.