British diplomat questioned over mobile phone photograph

Sri Lanka’s police today questioned a British diplomat over a photograph of President Mahinda Rajapakse’s motorcade which he captured on his mobile phone earlier in the day, the British embassy said.

“He made a genuine, innocent mistake in taking the photograph, which was for personal interest as a souvenir,” a statement by the British High Commission said.

“There was no other intention behind the action,” the mission said.

Embassy spokesman John Culley said Tom Owen-Edwards, the head of the political and development section, was released after his explanation was found to be satisfactory.

Photographing VIPs and sensitive locations without permission is prohibited in Sri Lanka for fear of attacks by separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, who have been fighting the government for a separate homeland for minority Tamils for more than two decades.

“This is a very crucial period. If a person takes a photograph of the president’s motorcade, it is the duty of the security officials to question the person concerned,” said police spokesman Rienzie Perera.

A sharp spike in violence this year has killed at least 3,500 fighters and civilians, leaving a 2002 cease-fire in tatters.