by Shamindra Ferdinando

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollgma has summoned British High Commissioner Peter Hayes to the foreign ministry after a British diplomat based in Colombo was caught helping a Sri Lankan passport holder (name withheld) to leave for the UK without a valid visa.

Bogollagama has sought an explanation from Dr.. Hayes last Friday (August 28) while the government ordered high level investigation.

Highly placed government sources told The Sunday Island that the British High Commission had issued a letter to a Sri Lankan girl requesting British airport authorities to facilitate her arrival at the Heathrow airport. Sources said that the British High Commission had not issued the Sri Lankan with a valid visa but sent a diplomat to Bandaranake International Airport to put her on board a direct flight to the UK.

A senior official told The Sunday Island that they were investigating the possibility of the British HC helping more people to escape. Responding to our queries, he pointed out had they issued her a valid visa, the situation would have been different.

He said that Dr. Hayes had promised to get in touch with Bogollagama tomorrow (August 31) on this matter.

Government sources said that all documents pertaining to the British operation had been obtained by the Sri Lankan government. Sources said that inquries were being made to establish whether the woman who was assisted to leave the country was wanted in connection with any criminal activity, including terrorism.