Sri Lanka threatens to expel Swiss ambassador
The Sri Lankan government has hit out at the Swiss ambassador to Colombo over criticism she made of the country's conflict with Tamil rebels.
Sri Lankan Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the Sunday Island newspaper that his government had had enough of international criticism.
He said the Swiss ambassador, Ruth Flint, her German counterpart and international media outlets were acting irresponsibly and spreading panic about the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“They will be chased away [if they try] to give a second wind to the LTTE terrorists at a time the security forces, at heavy cost, are dealing them the final death blow,” Rajapaksa warned.
Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Philippe Jutzi said Bern was not officially aware of the interview and had no comment on the criticism.
Sri Lanka was condemned last week after the ongoing civil war in the country’s north claimed more lives.
The government of President Mahinda Rajapakse has banned independent reporting in the region.
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