samv
SENIOR MEMBER
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Protocol snub
During Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent visit to India there was a protocol snub. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera also has been snubbed.
Anyone even with a little knowledge of protocol knows that a Cabinet Minister does not have the same status as a Prime Minister. When a country's Prime Minister or a President meets a Cabinet Minister of another country the President/Prime Minister sits in the middle with the two delegations on either side. Also the country flag of the Cabinet Minister is also not kept there. Only the country flag of the President/Prime Minister is kept. This is even practised by the smallest countries in the world.
The photographs released to the media of the meeting between Wickremesinghe and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held at Hotel Taj Palace New Delhi shows the seating arrangement has been made in such a manner that the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister were given equal status. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister is sitting on the side and also the Indian flag is kept behind Swaraj. Looking at the photograph anyone (who does not know the Indian Prime Minister Modi) would think Wickramasinghe is meeting the Indian Prime Minister or Swaraj is meeting a Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister. Samaraweera is not given the same status as Swaraj. The proper seating arrangement would have been for Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to sit in the middle with the Sri Lankan flag behind him.
The only good thing is that Swaraj called on the Prime Minister. If these idiotic antics continue next time Sri Lankan Prime Minister will call on Cabinet Ministers of other countries. The Indian side cannot ask for this seating arrangement as it is against protocol. Even if they asked Sri Lankan High Commission should have had the courage to rectify the matter. Indian diplomats will never humiliate their leaders. If at all they will try to elevate their leaders as done here. Even if a visiting PM wants this kind seating arrangement he or she should be advised not to go against accepted protocol practices.
The question is whether none of the Sri Lankan diplomats in New Delhi or anyone in the Sri Lankan delegation is aware of proper protocol practices.
K. Godage
Former Ambassador
The Island
During Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent visit to India there was a protocol snub. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera also has been snubbed.
Anyone even with a little knowledge of protocol knows that a Cabinet Minister does not have the same status as a Prime Minister. When a country's Prime Minister or a President meets a Cabinet Minister of another country the President/Prime Minister sits in the middle with the two delegations on either side. Also the country flag of the Cabinet Minister is also not kept there. Only the country flag of the President/Prime Minister is kept. This is even practised by the smallest countries in the world.
The photographs released to the media of the meeting between Wickremesinghe and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held at Hotel Taj Palace New Delhi shows the seating arrangement has been made in such a manner that the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister were given equal status. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister is sitting on the side and also the Indian flag is kept behind Swaraj. Looking at the photograph anyone (who does not know the Indian Prime Minister Modi) would think Wickramasinghe is meeting the Indian Prime Minister or Swaraj is meeting a Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister. Samaraweera is not given the same status as Swaraj. The proper seating arrangement would have been for Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to sit in the middle with the Sri Lankan flag behind him.
The only good thing is that Swaraj called on the Prime Minister. If these idiotic antics continue next time Sri Lankan Prime Minister will call on Cabinet Ministers of other countries. The Indian side cannot ask for this seating arrangement as it is against protocol. Even if they asked Sri Lankan High Commission should have had the courage to rectify the matter. Indian diplomats will never humiliate their leaders. If at all they will try to elevate their leaders as done here. Even if a visiting PM wants this kind seating arrangement he or she should be advised not to go against accepted protocol practices.
The question is whether none of the Sri Lankan diplomats in New Delhi or anyone in the Sri Lankan delegation is aware of proper protocol practices.
K. Godage
Former Ambassador
The Island
