Sri Lanka orders medical test for abducted Swiss staffer

A Sri Lankan court on Monday ordered a Swiss embassy employee at the centre of an argument between Colombo and Bern to undergo a medical examination, after she said she was abducted and sexually assaulted.

The Sri Lankan national alleged she was kidnapped and forced to divulge sensitive information about her work in late November, a day after a senior police officer sought asylum in Switzerland.

The police officer who fled to Switzerland had been investigating several cases involving members of the Rajapaksa family who regained power after Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected president last month.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne ordered that the woman be examined by a judicial medical officer after Swiss authorities said she was also sexually harassed by her unknown attackers.

The magistrate also ordered her to remain in the country until Thursday to assist the investigation.

Sri Lanka has cast doubts over her claims of abduction while Bern has stood by her account.

The embassy also maintained she was not medically fit to speak about her ordeal. But in line with a court order, she gave a lengthy statement to police on Sunday.

Last week, the country’s foreign ministry said Swiss ambassador Hanspeter Mock had been given “clear evidence” that the staff member’s account did not add up.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry indicated that such proof had not been shared.

The Sri Lankan government last week ordered airport immigration to stop any police officer leaving the country without permission.