British diplomat says both Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Rajapaksa were his close friends

Mr. Gladstone, who was expelled by former President Premadasa accusing him of interfering in Sri Lankan affairs, says he was instructed by the British government to do so.

British diplomat slams war on terror

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said, regualrly discussed with him the human rights violations by Premadasa government.

This is what you said on his views:

I'm proud to be a Sri Lankan but I'm highly worried about the Sri Lankan people. President J.R.Jayawardene to M.Rajapaksha are cheating the sinhala people. By killing Tamils, they are trying to prove them selves as that they are the Hero. This tradition will not be changing until the mind of Sri Lankan people to be educated in the way of globalization and all other western aspect. Pirabakaran or Rajapaksha don't cheat the people, they will know your cunnings soon.
Hasitha Premaratne, London, UK

It is clear Mr Gladstone is not in touch with real events in Sri Lanka right now. He seems to have little knowledge of the 'white van' scourge that is affecting innocent civilians around the country where they are picked up by government funded thugs and their bodies found either washed up on the beach, or in a ditch somewhere! If his good pal Rajapakse cared for human rights in the past, it was merely a facade. In reality, he is like most of Sri Lanka's previous leaders, save a few exceptions. He is greedy, power hungry, totally inept as a leader and is busy adding funds to his private bank account, along with his brothers.
Robert Dors, London, UK

The war in the North East(NE) of the island aquired different names under different presidents. JR Jayawardene called it "the war against militants". The IPKF called it "the war against the rebels". Chandrika Kumaratunge called it "the war against separatists". Mahinda Rajapakse calls it "the war aginst the terrorists". Having exhausted all the names one president even called it "the war for peace !!. The conflict was camoflagued by different names at different times to misinform, stupidise and abuse the Sinhalese and the International Community.
Sam Thambipillai, London, UK

Mahinda was fighting for human rights of his Sinhala people during late 80's,situvation now is not the same as he is fighting the Tamils in the name of war on terror.If he thinks of Tamils as his own people as he says when it suit him,would not carry on with war.
Kanthasamy, West Sussex

"War on terror" is restricting the free voices and freedom of half of the population in the world. Many Dictators and genocidal governments using the slogan to subjugate the free minded people of this world. They are allowed to carry out human rights violations with impunity.
Dayan Jeyasuriya, Bristol, UK

Effect of terrarisam is much verse than effect of war on terrarisam. Terrarisam has no limit and spread infinitely, like a cancer. Killing for some political rights or power, etc, not acceptable anyway. Gladstone was explelled because his himan right influence, because we was a dangerous person to democracy and sovarinity of Sri lanka. And he should know that Poiliticians alwas change themsels every where in world, including england. Rajapaksa as president is much better for Sri lanka, than a oppocition politician.
Sunil Jayasena, Sydney, Australia

The Colonials have done enough damage to the country for generations. Do not let money be collected in your country to get people killed elsewhere on domestic issues. Given the record Briton has no moral right to preach to others. The world is a mess because of you all. I do not see any reports on the progress of democracy in the Eastern provinces. Now the terrorists got their back to the wall the 'good Samaritans' are coming out!
Haris Wijayasiri, Edmonton, Canada

I'm pleased to hear that Mr Gladstone is working on publishing his memoires as HC in Sri Lanka. As a Sri Lankan working on a PhD in Peace and Conflict Research (with a major portion of it devoted to SL), I can say that Mr Gladstone's memoires will be highly useful in understanding politics and conflict in Sri Lanka. He is a distinguished diplomat and a role model for new entrants to the HM diplomatic services.
Chaminda Weerawardhana, UK/France

During the Premadasa regeme there were no LTTE carders infiltrated to Colombo as Journalists as well as no Sinhala Dollar Vaulturs acting as Journalists.
Ben, Brisbane, Australia

Now Mr. Gladstone lets discuss the total disaster done by your great country when it decided to colonize the whole of the Indian subcontinent for which many south Asians including myself still up to today pay the price. I think brown people are sick and tired of hearing about the human rights preached by the whites who murdered anybody and everybody they could and when they saw the colored world rising suddenly the drum beat changes and comes Human right charges, pressuring us the browns with the term killing me softly.
Nelani de Silva, Galle, Sri Lanka

I am sure that Mr. Gladstone is unaware of the fact that Mahinda Rajapakse was never genuine in being a Human Rights campaigner. In late 80s it was the most attractive slogan for a opposition MP in Sri Lanka. Genuine Human Rights activists would never chnge their policies just because they get into power. Nelson Mandela provides the best example for this.
Kavindu, Milano, Itlay

War on terror is as meaningful as the war on poverty both are convenient slogans in the hands of politicians to do what they wish, but the truth is elusive: Despite their rhetoric poverty and terrorism are rampant. Any violent revolt against a state is branded as terrorism even if the state is tyrannical. In the olden days regimes fought enemies they repulsively labeled as demons, vandals and barbarians now they call them terrorists - thats the difference.
Thiru, Sydney, Australia

This type of attitudes by the senior diplomats will put the society in danger. Very sadly most diplomats seek retirement jobs in the human right filed and try to keep the terrorism inside the society. They know then only you can talk a lot of human right violations. No one consider about suffering of the ordinary people due to terrorism.
PB, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

I thinks he should advice British Government first that no meaning of "war on terror" rather Sri Lanka. You know, your actions make a sence rather just preaching.
Lasitha Nanayakkara, Melbourne, Australia

Mahinda rajapake has too faces and he is a liar one face he promote terrorisum due to alliances with Iran on the other side he opresses innocent poeple it is important that bbc should know these two faces and tell the wold in relation to human rights the Sri lanka is the worst country in terms of corruption and killings there is no media freedom.
Ruwan Siriwardene