Lanka President says no persecution of soldiers


Team Udayavani, May 12, 2018, 1:52 PM IST

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has rejected charges from his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa that his unity government was persecuting military personnel for ending the war with the LTTE.

I wish to make it clear that there is no targeting of soldiers. We have been accused of jailing them,” Sirisena said while addressing a gathering in the northwestern region of Kurunegala last night.

Scores of soldiers have been arrested including a former chief of staff of military intelligence for abductions and disappearances. None of the genuine war heroes have been jailed. Those who have been jailed were the ones accused of murdering journalists and abducting people,” Sirisena said, adding ?I have succeeded in stopping anyone from being tried for war crimes”.

Sirisena pledged in 2015 in the run up to his election in which he defeated Rajapaksa that all alleged human rights violations during the Rajapaksa regime would be duly investigated. The new government did reopen some of the cases including the murder of the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, a virulent critic of Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksas government faced UN sanctions with recurring resolutions since 2012 which called for independent investigations into alleged human rights abuses during the final phase of the military conflict with the LTTE militant group which ended in 2009.

Rajapaksa branded the UN rights resolutions as attacks on Sri Lankas sovereignty and refused to cooperate with the UN. Sirisenas unity government adopted a more conciliatory approach towards the UN and has won confidence to pursue reconciliation with the Tamil minority.

Sri Lankan Army Chief Mahesh Senanayake said this week that the army would setup a special unit to counter war crime charges against the defence forces. 

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Lone tusker spotted on NH-166 near Karkala, disrupts traffic

Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning in MUDA case on Wednesday

Not ‘kaun banega mukhyamantri’ contest; MVA to name CM pick after polls: Jairam Ramesh

Related Articles More

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Khalistanis clash with people at Hindu temple in Canada, Trudeau says unacceptable

Trump says he would not mind somebody ‘shooting’ at him through fake news

US Elections: New Iowa poll shows Kamala Harris leading in presidential race

India-US partnership most important globally for future: Democratic leader Makhija

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Group clash in Indore after argument over bursting firecrackers: NSA slapped against 2 accused

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.