Sri Lanka government and Muslim Council condemns Malaysia HC attack

Sept 07, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Muslim Council has vehemently condemned the attack on the country’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ibrahim Ansar, and the chief monk of a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Sentul, Ven. Sri Saranan. “This dastardly act has no parallel in the diplomatic history of Malaysia and Sri Lanka,” the council said in a statement. Ansar is a veteran career diplomat who has served in various capacities in Sri Lankan foreign missions for over 20 years. “It is regrettable that a friendly country, Malaysia, could not provide diplomatic protection that Malaysia has pledged to undertake.” High Commissioner Ansar came under attack by suspected LTTE sympathizers when he escorted Minister Daya Gamage, Deputy Minister Anoma Gamage and Joint Opposition Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena to the airport to send off the VIPs. The Sri Lankan dignitaries were leaving after attending the international conference of Asian political parties held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “The Malaysian Government has the responsibility under international law to protect visiting foreign dignitaries and resident foreign diplomats in their country,” the council highlighted. Muslim Council said special units of the country’s police force usually protect traveling foreign dignitaries, and Special Forces may protect former heads of state, defense officials and other VIPs.

“It is a matter of serious concern that the Malaysian Government has failed to protect Sri Lanka's envoy to Malaysia.” The council has further called upon Malaysia to arrest the perpetrators who have scarred the excellent relationship that Malaysia and Sri Lanka have enjoyed and ensure that maximum punishment as per the laws of Malaysia are enforced. Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Foreign Ministry has called in the High Commissioner of Malaysia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express the condemnation of the Government of Sri Lanka, on the assault.

Government of Sri Lanka has insisted that immediate action is taken to identify the perpetrators and take legal action to the fullest extent of the law, while also taking immediate measures to provide adequate security for the Sri Lanka High Commissioner. The government has asked Malaysia to protect Sri Lanka High Commissioner with measures including assigning a Personal Security Officer, provide adequate security to the staff of the High Commission, the official residence and the Chancery premises as well as the Buddhist temple in Sentul, where an incident took place on Saturday 3 September. The High Commissioner of Malaysia expressed the deepest regret of the Government of Malaysia regarding the incident and informed that the Malaysian law enforcement authorities had already arrested five suspects involved in the incident, and that legal action would be taken against the perpetrators.

He has assured that the Ministry would be apprised of the details of the investigations, and that appropriate security would be provided, as requested. The High Commissioner also conveyed regret over the incident at the temple in Sentul and said steps have been taken since, to provide appropriate security to the temple.