Scotland’s police announced a last minute cancellation of a visit by a contingent of Sri Lankan policemen to the UK, which was scheduled for this month, following pressure from Tamil activists.
The Sri Lankan contingent, which included controversial head of the Sri Lanka Police IGP Pujith Jayasundara, were due to visit for a training program.
However, on Friday night the Foreign Office said “plans for the delegation have changed and the visit is now no longer going ahead next week”.
The Scotsman reports that the cancellation came following pressure from Tamil activists, with artist M.I.A. stating the Sri Lankan states treatment of Tamils was “genocidal”.
“I hope Scottish independence activists and leaders will protest the police chief’s visit because allowing the relationship between the Sri Lankan state and the Scottish government is not the will of the Scottish people,” she added.
“In the wake of the Scottish independence referendum movement, it’s terrible to see such relationships against Tamil self-determination are allowed to flourish on Scottish grounds.”
Read more from The Scotsman here.
The training and engagement by the British government with the Sri Lankan police comes despite widespread concern regarding the continued use of torture and other human rights abuses by Sri Lankan security forces.
Earlier this year Police Scotland also came out in defence of a training contract with Sri Lanka for the STF, despite continued concerns over the use of torture by security forces. In December, undercover footage provided by Yardstick films in another investigation by Mr Miller, revealed deep ties between Scotland’s police force and STF.
