Switzerland says local staffer in Colombo detained and threatened

Colombo (News 1st) - In an official statement, The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland stated a short while ago that a local employee of the Swiss embassy in Colombo was detained against her will. It further says that the local employee at the embassy was threatened at length by unidentified men in order to force her to disclose embassy related information. The release read, that the Swiss authorities have been informed of a serious incident has occurred at the Swiss embassy in Colombo. The Statement further reads Switzerland regards this incident as a very serious and unacceptable attack on one of its diplomatic representations and its employees. It also notes that Switzerland promptly reported the incident to the Sri Lankan authorities and is demanding an immediate and complete investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The release also calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and for the guarantee of the security of the Swiss representation in Colombo and its employees to be fully restored. The statement reads, "this message was conveyed today by the Swiss ambassador to Sri Lanka to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena together with a diplomatic demarche". Furthermore, the Sri Lankan ambassador to Switzerland has been summoned to the FDFA, Switzerland's foreign ministry.