After the Attorney General’s Department yesterday (04) decided not to proceed with charges against Wasantha Karannagoda, a former Navy commander, over his alleged role in the abduction of 11 Tamil youth in 2008 and 2009, Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director has responded with a statement, urging the Attorney General’s Department to explain the reasons for its decision.
“Sri Lanka has the world’s second highest number of enforced disappearances, with tens of thousands of people forcibly disappeared over many decades. This case was an opportunity for the Sri Lankan authorities to deliver justice for crimes under international law, by ensuring that those reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility, including those implicated for aiding and abetting and under command responsibility, are brought to trial,” Mishra stated.
She also noted that this case has already been beset by obstacles in the Sri Lankan Courts, and yesterday’s decision pushes justice further out of reach for the families of victims.
“Sri Lankan authorities must deliver truth, justice and reparations for all victims of enforced disappearance.” she said.
Amnesty International also noted that in January 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into “political victimization” under the previous government.
“Many state officials facing trial over human rights violations have complained of being “politically targeted” by the previous government, and have sought the Commission’s support in absolving them from ongoing court cases. As a result, the Commission has intervened in cases that are pending before courts, especially where military members are implicated,” the statement further reads.
Yesterday (04), the Attorney General’s Department informed the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar that charges against former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda over the alleged abduction of 11 youths will not be moved forward.
In the case filed against a group of naval intelligence officers pertaining to the alleged forced disappearance of 11 youths in Colombo in 2008 and 2009, Karannagoda is named the 14th defendant.
The case was taken up before trial-at-bar consisting of Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Amal Ranaraja and Nawaratne Marasinghe this morning.
Senior Lawyer Janaka Bandara, who represented the Attorney General, told the court that Karannagoda has filed a writ petition before the Appeals Court against naming him as a defendant of this case and that the Appeals Court has accordingly issued an interim order against hearing the charges levelled against him.