Sri Lanka rejects UK's new envoy

by Sanjay Jha | February 13, 2009 at 04:13 am

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In a big blow to British government , Sri Lanka has angrily rejected Britain's appointment of Des Browne, the former Defence Minister, as a special envoy to focus on the humanitarian situation in the war-torn Indian Ocean Island.

Rohitha Bogollagama, the Foreign Minister, said last night that the move was "extremely unhelpful" and warned of "major repercussions" for relations between Sri Lanka and its former colonial ruler.

Sri Lanka has rejected the British PM's nomination of a former defence secretary, Des Browne, as his special envoy to the country.

It said the nomination of Mr Browne was "a disrespectful intrusion".

PM Gordon Brown had said Mr Browne would work closely with the Sri Lankan government and community leaders.

But President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet said the appointment was "unhelpful" and was made without consulting them.

A foreign ministry statement said the appointment was tantamount to an "intrusion of Sri Lanka's internal affairs".