British government says it has no involvement in Sri Lankan President's cancelled event

The British Government today said that it has no involvement in cancelling Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's address at the Oxford Union.

Issuing a statement the British High Commission in Colombo said would like to make clear certain matters relating to the cancelled event at the Oxford Union and the planned event was a private one organized by the Oxford Union and the Sri Lankan High Commission in London.

"The UK government had no involvement in the planning of this meeting, or the decision to cancel it," the British High Commission stressed.

Public order and security considerations were a matter for the Oxford Union and the Police, the statement further said.

The Oxford Union, citing security concerns, succumbed into the pressure from pro-LTTE groups in UK and cancelled President Rajapaksa's address to the Union scheduled to be given Thursday.