INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Canada has actually enforced sanctions on four Sri Lankan state officials, including former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda
Rajapaksa, over alleged human rights infractions throughout the island nations civil dispute from 1983 to 2009
A statement released by the Canadian foreign ministry on Tuesday (Jan 10) accused the 2 Rajapaksa brothers, Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake
and Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi of dedicating gross and systematic offenses of human rights throughout the period
the country was coming to grips with the armed conflict.The sanctions will successfully freeze any properties that these 4 Sri Lankans may
hold in Canada and render them inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.The Canadian government said the
sanctions send a clear message that it would not accept continued impunity for those that have dedicated gross human rights offenses in Sri
Lanka.Canadas foreign minister, Melanie Joly, who spoke on the sanctions, said this decisive action was taken with the objective of ending
global impunity versus violators of international law
Canada stands ready to support Sri Lankas path to peace, addition and prosperity through the advancement of responsibility, reconciliation
and human rights, including global assistance to attend to the domestic crisis
In its declaration on the sanctions, the Canadian government explained that the Sri Lankan government has actually taken limited meaningful
and concrete action to promote its human rights obligations, in spite of continued calls from the global community to address
responsibility, the Canadian government pointed out
This endangers development on justice for afflicted populations, and prospects for peace and reconciliation
Canada swore to continue to team up alongside international partners, consisting of through appropriate multilateral bodies to advocate for
human rights and responsibility in Sri Lanka, noting that it is an essential action toward securing a safe, serene and inclusive future for
the country.Canada, as part of the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council, stated it would continue to advocate
for the complete application of resolution 51/1 and support efforts towards attaining responsibility and peace on the island.In its
statement, the Canadian federal government assured that it supports efforts towards urgent political and economic reforms to minimize the
difficulties dealt with by the people in Sri Lanka, and motivated the Sri Lankan government to promote democracy, human rights and preserve
the rule of law as it works to address this crisis.
