Sri Lanka: UN Report Describes Alarming Rights Situation
Human Rights WatchMar 03, 2022
On Wednesday, the US announced that it will refuse visas to Sri Lankan provincial Gov. Wasantha Karannagoda and his wife on human rights grounds after finding accusations that the former Navy chief abducted and killed children of wealthy families during the island nation's 26-year-long civil war "credible."
Karannagoda was reportedly charged alongside 13 others concerning the disappearance of 11 people between 2008 and 2009. According to Amnesty International, he was charged with turning a blind eye to the alleged abductions by naval personnel under his command.
The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly refused to acknowledge any responsibility for war crimes committed by military forces during the civil war. Instead of pursuing justice, the government has appointed several high-ranking military officials implicated in alleged war crimes to top political posts. Former Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda is one of them.
The unilateral move by the US to blacklist Wasantha Karannagoda is not only counterproductive to the holistic approach that the island nation has taken to addressing national unity and reconciliation, but it also completely disregards due process and is presuming guilt without any evidence.