Canada imposes sanctions on Rajapaksa brothers for crimes committed during the country’s civil war
Two senior officers were also targeted. According to a Canadian MP, Sri Lanka cannot continue on the path of impunity despite the years that have gone by since the end of the civil war. Sri Lankans in the diaspora still hope that the victims of heinous crimes will one day get justice.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Canada has imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankan citizens, including former presidents Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in connection with atrocities committed during the country’s civil war.
Other countries, including Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, might soon follow suit with similar measures, some political analysts believe.
On 10 January, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced that Canada would impose sanctions under its Special Economic Measures Act against Sri Lankan army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake; and naval intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi.
The United States both imposed sanctions on both in December 2021 for serious human rights violations. Previously, the US government sanctioned two other senior Sri Lankan officers, that is General Shavendra Silva, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, in February 2020; and Major Prabath Bulathwatte, head of the Tripoli platoon, a clandestine Sri Lankan Army unit, in December 2022.
In response to Canada’s action, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned acting Canadian High Commissioner (Ambassador) Daniel Bood. In a statement, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry “expressed the deep regret of the Government on the announcement of unilateral sanctions brought by the Government of Canada against four individuals including two former Presidents of Sri Lanka based on unsubstantiated allegations.”
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF), an international organisation that campaigns for the recognition of war crimes against Sri Lanka’s Tamil people, said it appreciated Canada's decision to stand up for justice, the rule of law, and democratic principles.
According to Canadian MP Gary Anandasangaree, Sri Lanka is a place where impunity has prevailed for the past 75 years with the authorities guilty of “clear dereliction of their responsibility” in matters of corruption and war crimes.
“If Sri Lanka is to move forward, it needs to be a country based on the rule of law,” he said. “In the case of the Rajapaksa brothers, their inaction or failure to act resulted in gross crimes against humanity”.
For Anandasangaree, Sri Lanka has dragged its feet for far too long and failed to address international crimes, which have been under international scrutiny since the end of the civil war.
Political analyst Samantha Hendawaitharana believes that "sanctions will not lead to rapid or major changes within Sri Lanka, but this action reminds us that there will be rising costs for Sri Lanka if it continues to encourage a culture of impunity.”
According to the United Nations, between 40,000 and 70,000 civilians were killed during the last phase of the civil war (1983-2009). Many victims and their families have been waiting for more than 13 years to see justice done.
"Sri Lanka has long since given up on holding to account for the crimes committed by the Rajapaksas and former army commanders Sarath Fonseka and Shavendra Silva,” said Nirmala Jeyaraj, speaking to AsiaNews. Originally from Paranthan, Northern Province, the 48-year-old accountant fled to Canada in 2008.
From Australia, where they currently live, engineers David Alaveddy (50), Lakshmi Sithambaram (45) and Niranjan Sabapathy (43), said they were happy to live abroad, but "we had to leave Sri Lanka at the height of the war because of the atrocities committed by the Rajapaksa regime.”
"We still remember how they killed thousands of civilians. This is why Canada’s action gives us a sense of relief and hope that one day the victims will get justice."
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22/01/2007
