SF Included in President’s UN Delegation But Visa Rejected – SF  

Rural Development Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday totally rejected reports that he was not included in the UN Delegation headed by President Maithripala Sirisena to New York. The Minister also publicized the letter sent by the Presidential Secretary on September 13 to him saying that he had been included in the official delegation to the UN. The letter said that the Protocol Division of the Foreign Affairs Ministry would be in touch with the minister shortly.

But, I could’ t go to the US because my visa was rejected. This was the third time that my US visa got rejected this year. I was not granted Visa to attend my daughter’s graduation as well. My green card was also not renewed.

Commenting on the remarks of MP Udaya Gammanpila, that Minister Fonseka had been removed from the delegation, the minister said the President had removed the joint opposition and not him. The President didn’t drop me from the delegation. It is the joint opposition, which had been cast aside by the President. Gammanpila doesn’t know what he is talking about. Maybe the UN is something Gammanpila values, but not me. I simply said my visa was rejected because a journalist asked me,” he concluded.