UK will not make further responses regarding Miliband issue - BHC

Acting British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Mark Gooding explained the rationale behind Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s participation at the Global Tamil Forum when he met the Lankan Foreign Minister last week, High Commission spokesman told Ada Derana. The spokesman added that the British Government will not be making any further responses regarding the matter.

Officials in London have also met the Lankan High Commissioner in UK and briefed him regarding the issue, British High Commission spokesman Dominic Williams added.

Sri Lankasummoned the Acting British High Commissioner on February 24 to lodge its “strong protest� against the UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s intention to participate at the Global Tamil Forum inaugural meeting.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who called a special briefing said that the Global Tamil Forum is an umbrella organization of the now vanquished terrorist group LTTE. He added that any Foreign Secretary’s physical presence at such a forum would give legitimacy to an organization with a separatist agenda for Sri Lanka.

Ada Derana