Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual, who said yesterday that he was going to the CID against a video circulating on social media tarnishing his image following a Korean official slamming Sri Lankan ministers for being late for meetings, failed to appear at the CID today as claimed.
The Minister in the ministry’s letter head had invited media to cover the occasion where he was expected to arrive at the CID at 1.50 pm today but even by 2.30 p.m. the Minister had failed to arrive.
The media had reported that Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual and its officials were taken to task by South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) President Cho Sung Lea for being late by 30 minutes for a scheduled meeting in Colombo on Wednesday.
However, the minister claimed later that a video was circulating on social media insulting him citing a statement made by the Korean official.
Lea had said in the meeting on Wednesday that getting late to start a scheduled meeting by 30 minutes is not a good sign. Ministers should be responsible for keeping their promises and being punctual, he had said.
“If this had happened in South Korea such officials would have been questioned and disciplinary action would be taken,” he said.
“There is no point in meeting such Ministers,” he said.
“If a meeting is scheduled for a specific time, it must begin at that time. If such Ministers cannot do that, there is no point in meeting such persons,” Lea lambasted.
“Telling lies and making promises in Sri Lanka has become an ordinary thing, and it has become part of their culture. As a country, people should be ashamed to hear such things from a foreigner. If people in Sri Lanka cannot change that habit, the country will not be able to establish connections with foreigners,” he said.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but the minister walked in after 9.30 p.m.
