UPFA members met diplomats, German Ambassador reveals

• Canadian High Commissioner on Twitter tells Namal to check who met with Western diplomats from his UPFA colleagues

The German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Joern Rohde yesterday took to Twitter to clarify their engagement with country’s political groups, noting that the Western diplomats met representatives from a number of political parties including members of the United People’s Freedom Alliance, who requested confidentiality.

The revelation comes in response to a Twitter message by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member MP Namal Rajapaksa questioning the motive of Tamil National Alliance and the United National Party meeting the diplomatic community. 

“Why this unfair criticism at Canadian HC and members of the diplomatic community? Last Tuesday around a dozen envoys including Canadian HC and myself met with 4 leading UFPA MPs/Ministers on their request. 

We respected their request for confidentiality,” Rohde tweeted, followed by a second tweet, saying “Afterwards we were invited to meet TNA leadership.  Diplomatic community also had meetings with President, Speaker and other stakeholders. To listen to all sides is part of our job!”

The tweets were an apparent reply to Rajapaksa who on Wednesday took to Twitter to criticise the engagement the international community had with UNP, TNA and JVP. 

“Interesting to see @officialunp JVP & TNA politicians meeting with the int. community. Perhaps if more effort was given toward meeting with the people & communities of #lka & paying heed to their hope for #elections, #SriLanka can finally achieve its fullest potential. #LetMeVote,” Rajapaksa tweeted. 

In response the Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives David McKinnon also hinted at a meeting with the UPFA members when he replied to Rajapaksa’s tweet saying “You might ask some of your @PodujanaParty colleagues who they’re meeting with.”

The SLPP has been critical about the international engagement in the country’s politics and particularly the meetings the UNP, TNA and the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has had with Western Diplomats claiming that the envoys are trying to exert undue influence in country’s internal affairs.