British parliamentarians from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils have called for the expulsion of a Sri Lankan military official who motioned a death threat to Tamil protestors in London this week.
Joan Ryan and Siobhain McDonagh wrote a letter to the British Foreign Secretary stating that the official, identified as the Sri Lankan High Commission’s defence attaché Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, was filmed “repeatedly running a finger across his throat – signaling the slitting of one’s neck – in an obvious attempt to intimidate the Tamil people who were present”.
“This is inappropriate, unacceptable and threatening behaviour, from someone who is serving in an official capacity as a guest of this country” they added.
“We urge you to make immediate representations to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner about this matter and we request that you withdraw Brigadier Priyanka Fernando’s diplomatic papers and expel him”.
See the full text of the letter here.
