Sri Lanka has dismissed Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire’s comments to the Tamil Guardian, criticising the country for not attending the summit on ending sexual violence in conflict, held this week in London, saying they were not invited.
Acting High Commissioner Neville de Silva said the criticism was "surely misplaced", according to The Sunday Island.
"British Foreign Office specifically noted earlier that Sri Lanka cannot participate as it had not been invited" he claimed.
"Swire might remember that he wrote to External Affairs Minister, Prof. G. L. Peiris, referring to the upcoming summit," he added.
“Since the Minister was unable to attend, he nominated officials to participate. When the high commission contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to announce our participation and register the participants, the British Foreign Office specifically said that Sri Lanka cannot participate as it had not been invited", De Silva told The Sunday Island.