NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on October 19, 2012. Sri Lanka's official representatives in Canada are accusing Sitsabaiesan of attempting to embarrass the Asian country's government by claiming she faced political intimidation during a visit there.Earlier this month, Sitsabaiesan said in a brief statement that she was warned by Sri Lankan officials during her private visit that she could be arrested and deported. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
January 08, 2014 - 12:32 PM
OTTAWA - Sri Lanka's official representatives in Canada are accusing a New Democrat MP of attempting to embarrass the Asian country's government by claiming she faced political intimidation during a visit there.
Earlier this month, Rathika Sitsabaiesan said in a brief statement that she was warned by Sri Lankan officials during her private visit that she could be arrested and deported.
At the time, fellow New Democrat MP Paul Dewar said after speaking to Sitsabaiesan — a Sri Lankan native of Tamil heritage — that his colleague had been followed and closely monitored by authorities from the moment she arrived.
The Sri Lanka High Commission says Sitsabaiesan was on a tourist visa and had been advised not to engage in political activities that would amount to flouting Sri Lanka's immigration laws and regulations.
It says Sri Lankan authorities handled the issue in a responsible manner, adding that Sitsabaiesan's allegation she was subject to "political intimidation" is erroneous and an attempt to unfairly embarrass the government.
Sitsabaiesan has yet to comment further on her experience, but Dewar said she was in Sri Lanka to visit friends and family.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014