Brigadier Priyanka Fernando was named as Sri Lanka’s Defence Attaché to the UK in 2017 and on 4th February 2018 he was filmed making ‘throat-cutting gestures’ to Tamils protesting outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, making headlines worldwide.
Ms Ryan and Ms McDonagh, the Vice Chair and Senior Vice Chair of the Tamil All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), also said in their letter to Boris Johnson MP that the conduct of Brigadier Fernando was “inappropriate, unacceptable and threatening […] from someone who is serving in an official capacity as a guest of this country.”
Sen Kandiah, Chair of Tamils for Labour, said ''Brigadier Priyanka Fernando’s behaviour is despicable. His actions were clearly an attempt to intimidate and silence peaceful protests opposed to the on-going persecution of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.Given the Sri Lankan military’s long history of committing human rights violations and alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity on Tamils, the Defence Attaché’s threats must be taken seriously by the UK Government..."
''I support the calls from Joan Ryan MP and Siobhain McDonagh MP. The Foreign Secretary must expel Brigadier Fernando from the UK without delay.” she further said.
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