Not a day passes when we do not hear of complaints by Sri Lankans about the harassment and humiliation they (invariably Sinhalese) suffer at the hands of local staff in foreign Missions when they seek to obtain Visas for travel abroad. It is in the security interest of this country to know who these local employees are and their backgrounds. Many years ago the driver of an Ambassador of an important country was discovered by our Intelligence services to be an LTTE plant, the man ran away when he heard that he was being investigated.

There is little doubt that given the sophistication, if that be the word,  that attended the manner in  which the LTTE operated, the man could definitely have been a strategic plant. There was also an instance recently where an INGO did not reveal the name of a local who was working for them to the Cinnamon Gardens Police who were collecting information on those working within the High Security Zone - when the Police were informed and they came around to check the man bolted. As stated earlier it is in the interest of national security to find out who these people are. Many countries around the world require Foreign missions in their countries to declare to the receiving government particulars with regard to local staff, we should also do the same.