Charles not welcome

COLOMBO, Jan 20: Prince Charles' visit to Sri Lanka next month as chief guest at the golden jubilee celebrations appeared to be plunging dee...

COLOMBO, Jan 20: Prince Charles8217; visit to Sri Lanka next month as chief guest at the golden jubilee celebrations appeared to be plunging deeper into controversy as the country8217;s main opposition party on Monday admonished the government for inviting him.

8220;This is an occasion when we would have preferred to have our President as chief guest, however much we may disagree with her on other matters,8221; said leader of the Opposition United National Party Ranil Wickremesinghe. He pointed out that both India and Pakistan had celebrated their 50th anniversaries last year without a foreigner presiding over the ceremonies.

Sri Lanka will celebrate 50 years of freedom from British rule on February 4 with religious and state functions in Kandy, the capital of the last Sinhala king.

Clarifying that he had 8220;nothing personal8221; against the Prince of Wales, Wickremesinghe told journalists: 8220;We are not telling him not to come, but the government has to anticipate problems. You cannot expect people not to show their anger.8221;

An influential member of the Buddhist clergy has already announced his decision to boycott the main function in Kandy in protest against the participation of British royalty.

Two other Sinhala-Buddhist organisations have stepped up their campaign calling for a wider boycott of the US 5 million celebrations.

Wickremesinghe said his party will not join the call for the boycott. 8220;Now that the government has invited him, we are not telling them to withdraw it,8221; he said. However, the Opposition8217;s disapproval will strengthen the hands of those campaigning against the government on this particular issue.

Story continues below this ad

The head priest of the Malwatte chapter of the Siam sect Rambukewelle Sri Vipasi has already announced that he will boycott the official independence day function, while the National Joint Council and the Federation of Buddhist Organisations are lobbying other priests to stay away.

The British High Commission here is not reacting as yet to the flurry of protests against Prince Charles8217; visit. 8220;No comment,8221; a spokesman said when contacted.