COLOMBO, Oct 30 (AFP) - Canada’s mission in Sri Lanka Saturday said it may have caused "unintended offence" in dealing with an anthrax scare that led to the disrobing and dunking of three Buddhist monks.
"The High Commission deeply regrets that responsible measures taken to ensure the health and safety of all those involved in a potentially hazardous situation may have caused unintended offence," a statement said.
The anthrax scare was sparked following the discovery of powder in a passport of a Buddhist monk who went to the mission Monday in the company of two other monks.
The Sri Lankan government has protested to Canada over the treatment of the monks who said they were forced to disrobe and shower after embassy staff held them inside the diplomatic compound against their will for several hours.
However, the Canadian statement said the monks had "willingly agreed to comply with our security protocols and thus were provided a private changing facility with private shower along with new robes."
The National Heritage Party (NHP), which has nine Buddhist monk legislators in parliament, said the Canadian statement was totally misleading and it tried to make out that the monks had willing subjected them to the "torture."
"This is like saying that a rape victim was a willing partner to the act," NHP spokesman Udaya Gammanpila said.
"The High Commission has also sent us a letter saying that monks agreed to the disrobing and shower, but the three monks concerned have clearly denied that position of the Canadians."
The Canadian statement came as the three monks, one Sri Lankan and two Bangladeshis studying in the island, broke their silence and described their ordeal saying that the two Bangladeshi monks were forced into a pool and deprived of food.
The monks said they told Canadian staff that they had simply sprinkled some "baby talcum powder" to prevent silverfish attacking a passport.
"If they were so suspicious, we were ready to inhale the powder. We were even ready to eat it," a monk said.
Police said the diplomatic mission had held the monks virtually prisoner and denied them access to a telephone, even to inform their colleagues about their plight.
