AIADMK lawyers protest 'presence' of Sri Lankan official at MSSRF

A group of AIADMK advocates today held a demonstration in front of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation here, protesting the reported presence of a Sri Lankan representative in a conference organised by it.

They raised slogans against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, protesting against a derogatory article about Jayalalithaa on a Lankan defence website, police said.

Police prevented the protesters when they tried to enter the conference venue. Police and the organisers told the demonstrators that no Sri Lankan representative was participating in the four-day conference; "Achieving Zero Hunger Challenge by 2025", which began today. However, the lawyers, led by R Sivasankar, maintained that Deputy Director of Sri Lankan Agricultural Ministry, Chandrasiri was attending the conference and chose to stay put outside the venue.

The article on Jayalalithaa's letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on fishermen issue was withdrawn by Sri Lankan Government which also issued an unqualified apology after it triggered a furore in Parliament and in the state.

India on August 4 summoned the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and conveyed its protest against the derogatory article. A day later, Rajapaksa himself expressed regret over the episode.

A junior cricket team from Sri Lanka, which arrived here to participate in a private tournament, was also sent back on August 4 citing security concerns.