• Diplomatic service notes that ME not a region to which defence attachés are assigned to diplomatic missions
• Points to satisfactory functioning of current coordination policy 
• Police emphasises ‘very real need’, cites case of UAE made a haven by Lankan Interpol suspects

The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Department of Police seem to have differing positions on the issue of the nexus between the role played by designated defence attachés attached to Lankan overseas diplomatic missions and their role in bilateral mutual assistance and cooperation in the criminal justice process including the extradition of suspects of crime.   

When questioned about the recent media reports of the lack of designated defence attachés in the diplomatic mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hampering efforts to prosecute criminal elements residing in the UAE, spokespersons from the Police and the Public Diplomacy Division of the Foreign Affairs Ministry had differing positions on the matter. 

According to Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director General (DG) of the Public Diplomacy Division Niluka Kadurugamuwa, the current lack of a defence attaché does not impede on the framework of prosecuting and extraditing organised criminal elements based in the UAE and the greater Middle East (ME). Speaking to The Daily Morning, Kadurugamuwa stated that while there was no defence attaché assigned to the said diplomatic mission in the country (UAE), the policy of coordinating with local (UAE) law enforcement authorities and international agencies such as the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) when it comes to prosecuting criminals based beyond home shores (Sri Lanka) was adequate. He further claimed that the Middle East (ME) was not a region in which defence attachés were assigned to diplomatic missions, in contrast to regions like the United Kingdom. 

Meanwhile, when contacted regarding the matter, Police Media Spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General of Police, and attorney Nihal Thalduwa told The Daily Morning that there was indeed a legitimate need for a defence attaché in the UAE, owing to the high number of suspects with outstanding warrants against them taking refuge in that country. Thalduwa  claimed that extensive discussions had been carried out on the matter within the Police Department to nominate or install a defence attaché, and further claimed that the need for such stemmed from the fact that in contrast to a civilian officer dealing with the complexities of international criminal law, a defence attaché would be much more knowledgeable about the process of identifying, tracking down and prosecuting criminals taking refuge in foreign countries and coordinating with the foreign law enforcement authorities. 

He further stated that this need was especially prevalent in a country such as the UAE, where there are known instances of wanted Sri Lankan suspects taking refuge. While stating that the current framework to extradite criminals residing in the UAE was functional, Thalduwa however stressed the ‘very real need’ to expedite the processes of the said framework and forwarded the addition of a defence attaché as a viable solution.

When asked to comment, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Viyani Gunathilaka stated that while he was aware of the claims made about the matter, he was unable to comment on the matter.

Attempts to obtain further clarity regarding the matter from Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, President’s Counsel M.U.M. Ali Sabry proved futile.