COLOMBO, Sept 8: Anura Bandaranaike, a minister in the Sri Lankan government and brother of former president Chandrika Kumaratunge, has accused the Indian High Commissioner of dabbling in Sri Lankan politics.
In a speech in parliament, Mr Bandaranaike said Anupama Rao should not dabble in Sri Lankan politics, advising the High Commissioner to look after her High Commission instead.
“We Sri Lankans can look after our country, please look after your High Commission,” he said and recalled the days when the late J.N. Dixit was India’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.
He said Mr Dixit with his arrogant ways spoilt Indo-Lanka relations, resulting in former Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi paying the ultimate price.
The ministers comments come in the wake of remarks made recently by Indian officials opposing Sri Lanka’s military ties with Pakistan. India has been showing reluctance to give military assistance to Sri Lanka since Rajiv’s assassination.
