- Wednesday, March 12, 2025
By: PTI
A SENIOR official posted in Sri Lanka sustained grievous injuries in an unprovoked assault, the Indian High Commission here said on Tuesday (19) as it urged its nationals to remain aware of the latest developments in the island nation and plan their movements and activities accordingly. While it was first reported that the official attacked is one from the Narendra Modi government, it was later clarified that he works for IVS Lanka Pvt Ltd, a visa application centre, in the island-nation.
Sri Lanka is witnessing a public unrest due to the unprecedented economic crisis followed by a political turmoil in the country. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (18) imposed an emergency ahead of the key election on Wednesday to pick a new president.
The Indian high commission in a tweet said the relations between the people of India and Sri Lanka have always been cordial and friendly.
Officials of @IndiainSL met in the morning Mr. Vivek Varma, an Indian national and Director of Indian Visa Center, who sustained grievous injuries in an unprovoked assault last night near #Colombo. Matter brought to attention of authorities in #SriLanka. (1/ pic.twitter.com/tUc0SOq0Gd
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) July 19, 2022
Relations between the people of ?? and ?? have always been cordial and friendly. In the current situation, #Indian nationals in #SriLanka are requested to remain aware of latest developments and accordingly plan their movements and activities. You may contact us when required.(2/
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) July 19, 2022
“In the current situation, #Indian nationals in #SriLanka are requested to remain aware of latest developments and accordingly plan their movements and activities. You may contact us when required,” it said.
In another tweet, the high commission said its officials in the morning met “Vivek Varma, an Indian national and Director of Indian Visa Centre, who sustained grievous injuries in an unprovoked assault last night near Colombo”.
The matter has been brought to the attention of the Sri Lankan authorities, it said.
Wickremesinghe, who was sworn-in as the acting president on Friday (15) after former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives and then to Singapore from where he resigned in the face of public revolt against his government’s mishandling of the country’s economy, imposed the emergency as protests demanding his resignation continued in most parts of the country.
Wickremesinghe, who is contesting the election, has defended imposing emergency, saying it was required in Sri Lanka in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.
He has asked the security forces not to allow violent anti-government protests ahead of the presidential election on Wednesday.
