SL warns diplomat of working 'beyond mandate'

Colombo, Apr 18: The Sri Lankan government today charged that a diplomat was ''working beyond the mandate'' set for them in the country and warned that consequences could follow, with the issue already being taken up at the diplomatic level.

''It has been brought to the notice of the Foreign Ministry that one diplomat is working beyond his mandate with regard to certain issues. We have informed about this to the relevant authorities of the country concerned and waiting for the outcome,'' Sri Lanka's spokesman on Defence Matters and Minister of Foreign Employment, Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters here today.

Asked to reveal the name of the country and the diplomat concerned, Mr Rambukwella said he could not divulge the details as the issue has already been taken up at the ''diplomatic level''.

''There is a mandate given to all the diplomats in the country and anything beyond, will not be acceptable,'' he said, adding that the Foreign Ministry has taken preliminary steps to deal with it.

He also indicated that if the issue was not settled within the preliminary steps then consequences could follow to deal with the diplomat in question.

There were several similar cases over the past few years but many of them had been identified, taken up and sorted out, Mr Rambukwella said.

''There are several cases like this. But many have been sorted out. One case has not been sorted out yet,'' the minister said, expressing hopes that it would be settled within a week with the Foreign Ministry taking the preliminary steps.

Answering a query with regard to the hijack of the Indian High Commission diplomatic vehicle last week, Mr Rambukwella said it was ''still under investigation''.

''There is certain progress in the investigation, but I cannot divulge details as it could hamper the ongoing investigation,'' the minister said.

UNI