Two versions of one meeting

There has been a commonly agreed protocol in place when it comes to issuing press releases or media statements following meetings between top government leaders and foreign dignitaries. It seems that is no longer practiced at the Presidential Secretariat.

Soon after visiting UK’s State Minister for South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday, the President Media

Division at the Secretariat issued a statement. This is what it had said:

“State Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad said that Sri Lanka’s programme to empower human rights is making great strides.”

“He further stated that Sri Lanka will be able to resolve all issues pertaining to human rights by moving forward with a pragmatic approach to further strengthen it.” the statement said.

Questions were raised on the accuracy of the statement issued by the

Secretariat given UK is one of the leading Core Group members that played a key role in bringing in UN Resolutions on Sri Lanka in the recent past and review on those resolutions are scheduled at this year's UN sessions.

Hours later, UK State Minister tweeted about the meeting with President which was contrary to what the President's Media Division reported.

“I met President @ GotabayaR of Sri Lanka to discuss global challenges including climate change and economic recovery from #Covid19. I emphasised the need for GoSL to make progress on human rights, reconciliation, and justice and accountability, in line with the UN HRC process and the SDGs.” the tweet said.