Asst Drainpipe Inspector leaves none impressed

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband continues to rub leaders in the subcontinent the wrong way. If his first visit to India turned out to be a disaster, his trip to Sri Lanka last month has left Mahinda Rajapaksa fuming. In fact, before the visit itself Miliband had indicated that London was considering appointing a special envoy for Sri Lanka in the wake of the humanitarian crisis and the violence. Colombo was furious at all the hectoring and so, the Lankan President did not even want to meet Miliband when he came. The suggestion he gave was that Miliband ought to come to his village to meet him. But tempers did eventually cool off, largely because Miliband had insurance cover in the French Foreign Minister, who was accompanying him on the trip. Nonetheless, Rajapaksa and his government down the line made it clear to Miliband that if London were to go ahead and appoint an envoy, there was no way Colombo would grant diplomatic recognition.