Sri Lankan Court bars Swiss Embassy employee from travelling overseas

A Sri Lankan court has barred a local employee of Swiss Embassy in Colombo, who was purportedly abducted and threatened recently, from travelling overseas until Monday.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate delivered the order today imposing the travel ban until the staffer records a statement with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara said the Ambassador of the Swiss Embassy, through the Foreign Ministry, has lodged a complaint with the police regarding the incident, alleging that the said local staffer was abducted by a group of unidentified persons last Monday. He said the CID officers have reportedly visited the Swiss Embassy to record a statement from the said victim but its employees have refused to divulge information on her.

The issue has gained controversy as Swiss government has termed the incident serious while Sri Lankan government said the details of incident don’t match with circumstantial evidence found through their investigation. The latter has requested access to the victim to record her statement.