L
LequteMan
Guest
The Sri Lankan government has refused to issue a visa to U.S. Ambassador at Large for Women's Issues, Catherine Russell, U.S. a official has said.
He said her visa application was officially submitted on Jan. 27 and rejected on Jan. 31a and this has forced Russell to cancel a high-level visit, scheduled for Feb. 10 to Feb. 11.
The U.S. official spokesman said on Tuesday in Colombo that her agenda had included meetings with government officials, Women's Parliamentary Caucus, women’s organisations and to raise their concerns about the issues of women in Sri Lanka.
He said with the development the U.S. Embassy now expects to connect Sri Lankan civil society, parliamentarians, women's groups and other representatives with her via video conference.
Nisha Biswal, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs said frustration and skepticism in the U.S. and the international community about Sri Lanka's lack of progress in investigating the final days of the war had led to increasing calls for an international investigation.
She, therefore, warned that “patience is wearing thin."
The Ministry of External Affairs, Colombo hit back, saying the U.S. had a desire to believe the worst of Sri Lanka.
He said her visa application was officially submitted on Jan. 27 and rejected on Jan. 31a and this has forced Russell to cancel a high-level visit, scheduled for Feb. 10 to Feb. 11.
The U.S. official spokesman said on Tuesday in Colombo that her agenda had included meetings with government officials, Women's Parliamentary Caucus, women’s organisations and to raise their concerns about the issues of women in Sri Lanka.
He said with the development the U.S. Embassy now expects to connect Sri Lankan civil society, parliamentarians, women's groups and other representatives with her via video conference.
Nisha Biswal, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs said frustration and skepticism in the U.S. and the international community about Sri Lanka's lack of progress in investigating the final days of the war had led to increasing calls for an international investigation.
She, therefore, warned that “patience is wearing thin."
The Ministry of External Affairs, Colombo hit back, saying the U.S. had a desire to believe the worst of Sri Lanka.
