Monitor overrules principal: Lecture by top US official cancelled

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, named after one of the country's illustrious Foreign Ministers, periodically arranges public lectures beneficial not only to the academia and officials but also students of foreign affairs.

The one due on Wednesday March 28 was to be from Michael J. Delaney, Assistant United States Trade Representative for South Asia. He was to speak on " The Role of Economic Development in Fostering National Reconciliation."

Delaney was US Political Advisor to NATO Southern Regional Command at Kandahar in Afghanistan before assuming his latest post. A Senior Foreign Service officer, much of his career has been devoted to the development of US trade policies worldwide.

External Affairs Minister, G. L. Peiris had to give approval for this lecture to be held. It was only a few days earlier, he spoke on "Education and Reconciliation." There were several requests from the public to attend the lecture and a packed house was expected.

However, at the last minute, the lecture was suddenly called off. A directive not to hold it has been given by Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Monitoring MP for the Ministry of External Affairs. As one wag in the EAM remarked, " what the Principal approved, the monitor has cancelled."

The reason - Mr Delaney is an American. He cannot be allowed to speak since the United States had moved a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.

Hence, the sponsors had to apologise to those who wanted to turn up. Some kept asking whether this was new government policy and whether US visitors would face a ban.