GTF welcomes targeted sanctions imposed by Canada on former Sri Lankan Presidents and Officials

The Global Tamil Forum, an umbrella body of Tamil diaspora outfits across the world, welcomed targeted sanctions imposed by Canada on former Sri Lankan Presidents and State Officials. 

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, announced on Wednesday that Canada was imposing sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act against Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for gross and systematic violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

The sanctions were also imposed on Sri Lankan Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Navy intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi. 

The same two military officials were previously sanctioned by the US (Dec. 2021) for serious human rights abuses. Additionally, US sanctioned two more Sri Lankan military officials in the past – former army commander Shavendra Silva (Feb. 2020) and head of a clandestine army platoon Prabath Bulathwatte (Dec. 2022).

GTF congratulated and appreciated the actions of the US and Canadian governments and for standing up for justice, rule of law and democratic principles including accountability. 

“GTF is also grateful to all concerned including political and non-political persons and organisations, human rights activists in Sri Lanka and overseas, Tamil diaspora organisations and many others who are working very hard for justice for victims of war,” a statement from the outfit said. 

Clearly a pattern is emerging. After more than a decade of inaction by the Sri Lankan authorities to address war time accountability, the international community is starting to take unilateral initiatives, the statement added. “But what distinguishes the Canadian action is the inclusion of Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the list. They were the President and the Defence Secretary during the last phase of the war (which ended in May 2009), with command responsibilities,”