British govt. says SL mission in London owes it 652,120 pounds

The Sri Lankan High Commission in London owes 652,120 pounds sterling to the UK government, according to a report submitted to the UK Parliament by the British Foreign Office.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) David Rutley has, in a written reply to UK Parliament, said that a large number of foreign embassies in London, including the Sri Lankan High Commission, owed millions of pounds in unpaid congestion charges. The overall amount of the debt now totalled more than £145 million.

Under-Secretary Rutley, says that however there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the London Congestion Charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge they are required to pay.

“Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats have an obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. The British Government therefore expects all diplomatic missions to respect UK laws and regulations, which includes payment of the Congestion Charge,” Rutley said.

Among the other countries are the US, Japan, Poland, France and Germany. The London congestion charge is a fee charged on most cars and motor vehicles being driven within the Congestion Charge Zone in Central London between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and between 12 noon and 6 p.m. on weekends.