President not visiting Malaysia next month
November 25, 2012 11:18 am
With various Indian groups objecting to the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Malaysia early next month for an international forum, it has now been confirmed that Rajapaksa will not be visiting after all.
This has been confirmed by the Sri Lankan High Commission’s media affairs counsellor, Rizvi Hassen.
“President Rajapaksa will not be coming due to unavoidable circumstances,” Rizvi said in an e-mail correspondence to FMT.
Rajapaksa was invited to attend the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Johor Baru from December 4 to 6.
The invitation, however, had sparked off protests from leaders of the Indian community in Malaysia.
The Sri Lankan leader’s absence, however, is not due to the various protests by political and non-political entities, said Rizvi.
“It is not due to the protests. The decision [to not attend the WEIF] was decided before the protests took place,” he said.
On Friday, MIC Youth sent a protest memorandum to the Foreign Ministry objecting to the planned visit by Rajapaksa.
Separately a committee was also set up by Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy to object to Rajapaksa’s presence in Malaysia.
Yesterday, Sri Lanka War Victim Concerned Team (Api) protested in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission over the proposed visit. MIC Youth members also lodged a police report against Rajapaksa for alleged war crimes.
The Indians in Malaysians who are largely made up of ethnic Tamil have been expressing their displeasure due to Rajapaksa’s role in quashing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009 after a 26-year civil war, Free Malaysia Today reported.
This has been confirmed by the Sri Lankan High Commission’s media affairs counsellor, Rizvi Hassen.
“President Rajapaksa will not be coming due to unavoidable circumstances,” Rizvi said in an e-mail correspondence to FMT.
Rajapaksa was invited to attend the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Johor Baru from December 4 to 6.
The invitation, however, had sparked off protests from leaders of the Indian community in Malaysia.
The Sri Lankan leader’s absence, however, is not due to the various protests by political and non-political entities, said Rizvi.
“It is not due to the protests. The decision [to not attend the WEIF] was decided before the protests took place,” he said.
On Friday, MIC Youth sent a protest memorandum to the Foreign Ministry objecting to the planned visit by Rajapaksa.
Separately a committee was also set up by Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy to object to Rajapaksa’s presence in Malaysia.
Yesterday, Sri Lanka War Victim Concerned Team (Api) protested in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission over the proposed visit. MIC Youth members also lodged a police report against Rajapaksa for alleged war crimes.
The Indians in Malaysians who are largely made up of ethnic Tamil have been expressing their displeasure due to Rajapaksa’s role in quashing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009 after a 26-year civil war, Free Malaysia Today reported.
