Was the Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai denied Lankan visa?

Not exactly. According the Sri Lankan sources and Sri Lankan Consul General for Canada, Mr. Bandula Jayasekera. Speaking to an Indian media outlet that has conveniently joined the Canadian press, that has been sensationalizing the Deepak Obhrai situation, comparing it to Bob Rae's denial of entry to Sri Lanka. The two are completely different scenarios according to Mr. Jayasekera. Below is what he said about the situation, to India Abroad.

Bandula Jayasekera, Sri Lankan Consul-General in Toronto, told India Abroad that he wrote to his country's foreign secretary. "I know firsthand he (Obhrai) was not refused visa. The only thing we said was it was difficult for us to receive him at this time as we are having high profile Japanese delegation."

Jayasekera, in fact, read out an official response that he received from the foreign secretary in Colombo: 'Deepak (Obhrai) was not denied the visa but he was requested to come later due to the clash with the visit of the high level Japanese envoy Vaushushi Akashi, who deals with Sri Lanka.'

Jayasekera said, "We always recognise and we have respect for the government of Canada and we are very close. We really appreciate what Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Canadian government have done on the Sri Lankan issue. The visa for Mr Obhrai was not an issue. It was simply difficult to receive both the Japanese envoy and Mr Obhrai at the same time. Mr Obhrai can go at a later date."

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