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Photograph: UN Geneva
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary, Ravinatha Aryasinha, has warned the Swiss Embassy employee who was abducted, that her status as a Sri Lankan citizen means she is liable to face legal action if found in breach of law.
Mr Aryasinha criticised the employee for being unable to provide a statement to Sri Lankan police, as inconvenient to the investigation despite the Swiss Embassy declaring that the employee is in deteriorating health following the attack. The employee, who said that unidentified men had kidnapped and assaulted her threatening to reveal confidential embassy information, was brought before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Sunday.
Fearful for their employee’s security, the Swiss Embassy had requested the government to allow the local employee to be flown out for medical treatment in Switzerland. However, the government has rejected the request with the CID saying the investigation will be hampered if the employee were to travel abroad.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne issued an order prohibiting her from overseas travel until she has made a statement to the CID before Monday. The CID await the testimony from the employee and deny the incident occurred suggesting it cannot be corroborated with the available evidence.
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