Violating the Geneva Protocol!

Dushy Ranetunge in London

UK: A senior diplomat based in Colombo had protested about their vehicles being searched by the Armed Forces as being a violation of the Geneva Protocol on diplomatic privileges.

It had been explained to him that these are extraordinary times and suggested that the soldiers manning checkpoints may be prioritising their security higher than the Geneva Protocol on diplomatic privileges.

The Sri Lankan Government official had then inquired if the foreign diplomat had to remove his shoes and belt the last time he went through John F Kennedy airport in the United States to be put through an X ray machine for scanning.

He had replied in the positive.

The Sri Lankan Government official had then pointed out that removing the shoes and belt and putting it through an X-ray machine is also technically a violation of the Geneva Protocol on Diplomatic privileges and inquired if the diplomat had protested. The Foreign Diplomat had been speechless.