Protocol mishap for Ban at BIA

Did differences between the United Nations Secretary General’s Secretariat and the Foreign Ministry lead to a low key welcome for Ban Ki-moon?

Insiders at the Foreign Office point out that there were inconsistencies in the practices followed in welcoming dignitaries.

Mr. Ban was received by a Deputy Minister at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). There was also some confusion whether the UN SG is considered a Head of State. During the 1976 Non Aligned Summit in Colombo, the same issue arose and then SG Kurt Waldheim was not afforded such status, but things have changed since and the issue is beyond doubt. When the UN General Assembly is in session in New York, most Heads of State and heads of Government pay him courtesy call at his office.

The Chinese Foreign Minister was welcomed at the BIA recently by the Ministry Secretary and by the Minister only in Colombo. However, Nisha Biswal, an Assistant Secretary of State of the United States had been received by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera himself at the airport – with Kandyan drummers and the works.

Another instance, they say, is the visit to Sri Lanka by Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg. She was on holiday in Sri Lanka. The last two days of her visit were turned into an official visit. Ms Solberg received a red carpet welcome outside the precincts of the Presidential Secretariat with mounted horses and a gun salute by the Sri Lanka Air Force. However, she is not a Head of State. It is the Norwegian King who holds that position.

Secretary General Ban is ranked as a Head of State. This, insiders say, has raised questions over Sri Lanka’s protocol policies.

President J.R. Jayewardene tried to put some order into receiving and sending off visiting VIPs by having the official welcome opposite President’s House in Colombo Fort. The most (in)famous incident there was the ‘parting shot’ given to Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi by a naval rating soon after he had signed the (in)famous Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987.