lkdood
03-07-2010, 05:02 PM
A planned visit to Toronto by Colombo’s Permanent Representative at the UN in New York, Dr. Palitha Kohona has been put on hold for security reasons following protests by local groups over alleged ‘war crimes’.
Kohona, who also served as the Foreign Secretary in Colombo prior to his appointment in New York was scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto on Wednesday.
Magaret McKone, Executive Director at the University said the planned lecture had to be postponed pending a standard ‘security assessment’ but did not elaborate.
Student groups in Toronto have vehemently protested at Kohona’s visit saying he represented a country that has been blamed for war crimes and other human rights abuses.
The students have even called on the Canadian authorities to deny a visa to the former Foreign Secretary and also to ban him from entering the premises of the university.
The student groups raised among other issues the deportation of Canadian MP Bob Rae in mid last year considering him a security threat to Sri Lanka and the abductions and killings of journalists.
Dr. Kohona could not be reached for comment .
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama refused to comment on the matter, saying he was not aware of such a development.
ST (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/cms/articleXYZ100000010.php?id=5354)
Kohona, who also served as the Foreign Secretary in Colombo prior to his appointment in New York was scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto on Wednesday.
Magaret McKone, Executive Director at the University said the planned lecture had to be postponed pending a standard ‘security assessment’ but did not elaborate.
Student groups in Toronto have vehemently protested at Kohona’s visit saying he represented a country that has been blamed for war crimes and other human rights abuses.
The students have even called on the Canadian authorities to deny a visa to the former Foreign Secretary and also to ban him from entering the premises of the university.
The student groups raised among other issues the deportation of Canadian MP Bob Rae in mid last year considering him a security threat to Sri Lanka and the abductions and killings of journalists.
Dr. Kohona could not be reached for comment .
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama refused to comment on the matter, saying he was not aware of such a development.
ST (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/cms/articleXYZ100000010.php?id=5354)