SL Ambassador in Israel clarifies news report

Writing to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Israel says that the report attributed to his comments have been misquoted.

A news report quoting Ambassador Donald Perera had been published in the paper stating that “Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel’s fight against Palestinian terror”.

Ambassador Perera states in his letter that the contrary view attributed to him in the news item that is a totally erroneous rendering of his comments.

The full text of the letter obtained from the Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs is as follows:

The Editor,

Yedioth Ahronoth,

Dear Editor,

I write with reference to the news item in the English online version of your esteemed newspaper entitled “Sri Lankan Ambassador: We back Israel’s war on terror”.

In this regard, I would like to clarify certain matters as the manner in which my comments have been reflected, contains much inaccuracy.

Sri Lanka always values her friendship with Israel and this aspect will continue to underpin the bilateral relationship between our two countries.

At the same time, the policy of the Government of Sri Lanka, which we have followed in consistent consonance with the position of the Non-Aligned Movement, is that the question of Palestine and the pursuit of lasting peace in the Middle East must be resolved through a two-state solution whereby Israel and Palestine will co-exist with each other within secure and internationally recognized borders.

Therefore, the contrary view attributed to me in the news item that “Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel’s fight against Palestinian terror” is a totally erroneous rendering of my comments.

I would appreciate if you kindly carry this clarification with due prominence.

Signed: Donald Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka.