-By LeN South Asian Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -20.Feb.2025, 11.40 PM) Colombo—It was just another sunny afternoon in Bambalapitiya, the kind where you’d expect to see tuk-tuks zipping around, crows stealing snacks from unsuspecting pedestrians, and the ever-present hum of city life. But on February 20th, at approximately 2:00 PM, things took a turn for the bizarre when a Maldavian diplomat allegedly stormed out of his high commission and—brace yourselves—threatened to kill a peaceful Sri Lankan protester.
Yes, you read that right. This wasn’t a bad spy thriller. It wasn’t a diplomatic blunder whispered about in hushed tones over tea. No, this was a full-blown, real-life incident that unfolded in broad daylight, with Sri Lankan policemen as witnesses and the stunned citizens of Colombo as the audience.
Meet Mr. Nadeesh, a Sri Lankan citizen who, like any father with a heart, simply wanted to check on the well-being of his daughter, who has been abducted by Maldivian mother, against the will of the little girl, His story, however, reads less like a heartfelt family drama and more like an international scandal.
Nadeesh, whose daughter is currently in the Maldives with his Maldavian ex wife, nadeesh was deported from the Maldives under questionable legal circumstances. Seeking justice, he decided to stage a peaceful protest outside the Moldavian High Commission in Colombo, hoping to draw attention to his plight.
Now, a peaceful protest outside an embassy is nothing new. A few placards, some impassioned speeches, maybe the odd honk from a passing vehicle in support. But what happened next? That’s where things got... interesting.
In an unprecedented display of, let’s call it enthusiasm, the Third Secretary of the Maldavian High Commission, one Mr. Zaid (contact number: 0777227713, in case you’d like to send him a “chill out, bro” text), marched outside with four of his diplomatic colleagues.
What happened next was—again, let’s emphasize this—in front of Sri Lankan police officers. Instead of ignoring the lone protester or engaging in a diplomatic discussion, the diplomatic gentlemen allegedly issued a death threat. Yes, they threatened to kill Nadeesh. In Sri Lanka. On Sri Lankan soil.
Here’s where things get legally murky and ethically outrageous. Diplomatic immunity, as any good international relations student will tell you, is designed to protect diplomats from certain legal actions while they perform their official duties. What it does not cover, however, is walking out of your embassy and allegedly threatening to assassinate a local protester because he wants to see his daughter.
You’d think this was some top-secret CIA-level incident, but no—Sri Lankan police officers stood right there, likely wondering if they had accidentally wandered into an alternate universe where international diplomats think they’re in a Quentin Tarantino film.
Thankfully, Bambalapitiya OIC Sampath Pathmala and his officers kept their cool. No dramatic takedowns. No high-speed chases. Just a lot of diplomatic side-eye and, presumably, some frantic phone calls to the higher-ups.
Now, this isn’t just a case of one protester being bullied. This is an international incident. An entire Maldavian diplomatic squad allegedly issued a death threat. On Sri Lankan soil. And that, dear readers, is the kind of thing that gets foreign ministries and Presidents involved.
Enter President Anura and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who, if they have any sense of national pride (and we assume they do), must be drafting some very stern letters right about now. The Maldavian High Commissioner should already have a neatly folded summons from the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry waiting on his desk, demanding a proper explanation.
Because let’s be real—diplomacy is supposed to be about handshakes, well-worded press statements, and awkward cocktail parties. Not death threats.
Sri Lanka has always prided itself on being a nation where freedom of speech and peaceful protests are protected under the constitution. If Maldavian diplomats think they can waltz in, ignore international law, and casually threaten locals, they might be in for a rude awakening.
At this point, there are some very real questions that demand answers:
Will the Maldavian diplomats face consequences?
Will the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry take decisive action?
Will President Anura and Minister Herath ensure that Sri Lanka isn’t treated like a doormat by rogue diplomats?
And, most importantly, will Mr. Nadeesh finally get to see his daughter?
This isn’t just about one protester. This is about Sri Lanka’s dignity on the world stage. If a foreign diplomat can threaten a local citizen and get away with it, what kind of message does that send?
If the government doesn’t take action, we might as well start handing out “Get Out of Jail Free” cards to every diplomat with an anger management issue. But if they do take action—expelling the offending diplomats, demanding an apology, and ensuring Mr. Nadeesh’s case gets international attention—then Sri Lanka will have sent a strong message:
This is a land where justice matters. Where threats won’t be tolerated. And where, no matter how small a country might be, it will not be bullied by rogue diplomats.
As for Mr. Zaid and his Maldavian colleagues? Maybe they should consider a career change. Diplomacy doesn’t seem to be their strong suit.
-By LeN South Asian Correspondent
Dear Maldavian High Commission,
Next time you’re tempted to step out of your embassy and throw around threats like you’re in an action movie, maybe take a deep breath. Have some Sri Lankan tea. Enjoy a nice plate of rice and curry.
Because if there’s one thing we Sri Lankans don’t tolerate—besides bad cricket umpiring—it’s foreign diplomats thinking they can act like gangsters on our soil.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen (and Probably Everyone Else in Sri Lanka)
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by (2025-02-20 19:50:08)
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