NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon detained overseas in Sri Lanka Lee Rhiannon pictured here with Greens candidate Phil Bradley. SRI Lanka's hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week has been dealt a blow after NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon was detained with a New Zealand politician yesterday during a trip investigating human rights issues and press freedom. Senator Rhiannon was released by the Sri Lankan government last night after being briefly detained for what she reportedly said were erroneous allegations that she had broken visa laws because the local authorities had not been notified she was visiting the country. Her office told Twitter followers about 5pm Sydney time that her passport had been confiscated by local immigration officials. Delegates from 52 Commonwealth nations are arriving in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo for the week-long meeting, including Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and British Prime Minister David Cameron. However, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pulled out due to the country's human rights record. Senator Rhiannon was scheduled to attend a press conference with New Zealand MP Jan Logie, believed to be focusing on alleged human rights abuses by Sri Lanka in Tamil areas. The press conference was shut down. "They have prohibited her from speaking to media or any other locals," her office tweeted. They are both being detained in the lobby of their hotel. A number have journalists tried to speak to them and have been blocked. Her office later tweeted just after 6pm: "Lee has been released and is on her way to the airport."