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The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
UN rights chief asks Sri Lanka to prosecute war crimes
GENEVA: The UN human rights chief Wednesday (Aug 13) urged Sri Lanka's new government to seize the "historic opportunity" to end its entrenched culture of impunity for war crimes and other abuses. In a report on the battle-scarred nation, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government had a chance to restore Sri Lanka's image. "Today, an opportunity presents itself for Sri Lanka to break from the past, with the leadership pledging a fresh direction on long-standing issues," Turk said in the 16-page report to the Human Rights Council. It noted that the new leftist president had publicly recognised the shared pain and grief of individuals from all communities in Sri Lanka affected by decades of conflict. "It is important to build on this momentum and to translate it into tangible results for accountability in the form of truth-telling, justice, reparations and non-recurrence, as necessary to end impunity and provide for healing and closure." Turk said the process should start with a clear and formal acknowledgement of the violations, abuses and crimes that occurred, including during the civil war that ended in May 2009. He urged the international community to support Colombo's new efforts, but also warned that should Sri Lanka fail to deliver on its promises, they must exercise universal jurisdiction to prosecute war criminals. UN reports have accused Sri Lankan troops of killing at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the final months of the fighting, a charge successive governments have denied. The crushing of the Tamil Tiger guerrilla leadership 16 years ago brought an end to 37 years of conflict that claimed at least 100,000 lives on all sides. Sri Lanka's successive governments have also refused to allow an independent investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by its own troops or its warring partner, the Tamil Tigers. Turk visited Sri Lanka last month and held talks with Dissanayake as well as civil society representatives, and also travelled to regions ravaged by war. "As I witnessed first-hand during my visit to Sri Lanka, the pain and suffering of victims remains palpable, and their demands for truth and justice must be addressed." He also welcomed pledges to repeal the dreaded Prevention of Terrorism Act, establish an independent public prosecutor, and investigate emblematic cases, including the 2009 assassination of anti-establishment editor Lasantha Wickrematunge. The report also highlighted the deep social impact of the country's economic crisis in 2022, with poverty rates nearly doubling since 2019 and malnutrition rising sharply among children. - AFP
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
UN rights chief asks Sri Lanka to prosecute war crimes
GENEVA: The UN human rights chief Wednesday urged Sri Lanka's new government to seize the 'historic opportunity' to end its entrenched culture of impunity for war crimes and other abuses. In a report on the battle-scarred nation, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government had a chance to restore Sri Lanka's image. 'Today, an opportunity presents itself for Sri Lanka to break from the past, with the leadership pledging a fresh direction on long-standing issues,' Turk said in the 16-page report to the Human Rights Council. It noted that the new leftist president had publicly recognized the shared pain and grief of individuals from all communities in Sri Lanka affected by decades of conflict. 'It is important to build on this momentum and to translate it into tangible results for accountability in the form of truth-telling, justice, reparations, and non-recurrence, as necessary to end impunity and provide for healing and closure.' Turk said the process should start with a clear and formal acknowledgement of the violations, abuses and crimes that occurred, including during the civil war that ended in May 2009. He urged the international community to support Colombo's new efforts, but also warned that should Sri Lanka fail to deliver on its promises, they must exercise universal jurisdiction to prosecute war criminals. UN reports have accused Sri Lankan troops of killing at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the final months of the fighting, a charge successive governments have denied. The crushing of the Tamil Tiger guerrilla leadership 16 years ago brought an end to 37 years of conflict that claimed at least 100,000 lives on all sides. Sri Lanka's successive governments have also refused to allow an independent investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by its own troops or its warring partner, the Tamil Tigers. Turk visited Sri Lanka last month and held talks with Dissanayake as well as civil society representatives, and also travelled to regions ravaged by war. 'As I witnessed first-hand during my visit to Sri Lanka, the pain and suffering of victims remains palpable, and their demands for truth and justice must be addressed.' He also welcomed pledges to repeal the dreaded Prevention of Terrorism Act, establish an independent public prosecutor, and investigate emblematic cases, including the 2009 assassination of anti-establishment editor Lasantha Wickrematunge. The report also highlighted the deep social impact of the country's economic crisis in 2022, with poverty rates nearly doubling since 2019 and malnutrition rising sharply among children. — AFP
News18
14-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
History In Motion: Razeen Sally's Journey Through Sri Lanka's Past And Present
In his book "Return to Sri Lanka – Travels in a Paradoxical Island," Razeen Sally skillfully blends the narrative styles of George Orwell and Bill Aitken. Razeen Sally's transition from his traditional academic and policy advisory roles into travel writing marks a significant breakthrough. In his book ' Return to Sri Lanka – Travels in a Paradoxical Island," he skillfully blends the narrative styles of George Orwell and Bill Aitken. The work is both scholarly and engaging, combining elements of history, religion, people, and politics, as Sally explores his Sri Lankan roots. Although raised in England, Sally is of Sri Lankan Muslim descent, with family ties in and around Colombo. He describes himself as 'half and half," born to an Anglo-Welsh mother and a Sinhalese Muslim father, yet he has grown into a Sri Lankan British writer. The book is divided into two parts: Sally's Sri Lankan childhood and his adult travels across the island. Accompanied by two trusted drivers, Nihal and Joseph, Sally traverses the teardrop-shaped island, formerly known as Ceylon. His narrative is enriched with quotations from renowned explorers and pioneers of Sri Lanka, primarily British, who once made the island their home. Sally's historical account begins with the arrival of Muslim traders from Arabia and Java, who were predominantly Sunnis. His personal recollections start from the 1960s Ceylon to modern-day Sri Lanka. The author's empathy with the country stems from his experiences with the IPKF, which aimed to subdue ethnic conflict, and his enduring affection for Sri Lankan friends. This bond drew him back to the island repeatedly, retracing familiar paths. Both Sinhalese and Tamils migrated from India, with frequent Tamil Chola invasions from South India. These invasions fostered a paradox: a minority complex among the majority Sinhalese and a majority complex among the minority Tamils. This dynamic prompted the Sinhalese to move their citadel from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, then to Kandy, and finally to Colombo—places Sally vividly describes. The Sinhalese-Tamil tensions were also influenced by four and a half centuries of colonial rule, which ended with the British period beginning in 1815 with the capture of the Kandyan kingdom. The Sinhalese attempts to reverse their minority psyche are symbolised by two military victories: King Dutugemunu's triumph over King Elara at Anuradhapura and the defeat of Tamil Tiger leader Prabhakaran's insurgent forces at Nandikadal by Sri Lankan security forces. The Sri Lankan Army Chief's office features a portrait of Elara's surrender. Domestic racial conflicts were not limited to Sinhalese and Tamils but also involved Sinhalese-Muslim and Muslim-Tamil tensions. The Burgher community largely avoided these conflicts. Sally highlights the distortions in Theravada Buddhism that led to Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism, fuelled by post-independence political leadership. The origins of political parties and their ideological paths for electoral victory contributed to recent history, culminating in the rise of the Rajapaksa dynasty. Following the 30-year civil war, Sri Lanka faced the COVID pandemic, Easter Sunday bombings by indigenous Muslim terrorists, and a 2022 economic meltdown due to a sovereign default. The Argalaya movement and the subsequent fleeing of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa mark a sad chapter in contemporary Sinhalese Buddhist politics. Between 2015 and 2018, Sally served as a policy advisor to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, gaining insight into the disastrous rule of the first Unity government. A major irony was the resurgence of the urban Marxist JVP movement, which twice failed to seize power in Colombo, reinventing itself through the Argalaya movement as the ruling NPP. This movement secured a massive parliamentary majority, with the little-known Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake becoming President. Sally covers Dissanayake's narrow victory in the presidential elections. At the heart of Sri Lanka's issues lies the 1978 Republican constitution, which no president or political elite has sought to alter despite promises. Sally's encapsulation of political history is facilitated by his engaging writing style. The book's narration of ancient history, including Buddhism, is equally superb. Few books offer such comprehensive knowledge about a country, seamlessly blending with the author's travels. Sally describes Buddhism's arrival from India, the preservation of the Theravada tradition distinct from the Mahayana tradition, and Anuradhapura as the cradle of Theravada Buddhism. He details the Bodh tree sapling from Bodh Gaya in India, where Buddha attained enlightenment, and Buddha's relics in Sri Lanka—a collar bone, a foot, and a tooth. The descriptions of the world's largest standing, recumbent, and seated Buddha statues in Gala Vihara are mesmerising. The travelogue begins in Sally's hometown of Colombo and its surroundings, followed by trips to the south, including Galle, Tangalle, Hambantota, and Kathiragama, Sri Lanka's national shrine. The Kandy road takes him to hill areas, tea and coffee estates, and stunning landscapes. He also travels to Rajarata, the original Sinhalese Buddhist kingdoms, ending in Anuradhapura. Sally's longest journey takes him to the northeast, a region scarred by the civil war. Amparai district, with its significant Muslim population, and Kathankudy in Batticaloa, home to Sri Lanka's largest mosque, are significant stops. Sally recounts the war and post-conflict situations well, also noting that JVP rebel leader Rohan Wijeweera was captured from a tea estate in 1990 and shot on the 13th tee. Sally's prognosis for Sri Lanka's future is bleak: 'Drift, Relapse and Take off." He believes the country will oscillate between drift and relapse, never achieving take-off. This dire prediction is a harsh truth. Prompted by his driver Nihal, Sally's journey of Sri Lanka culminates in a self-discovery. The 'half and half" Sally realises that his true home is Sri Lanka. view comments First Published: July 14, 2025, 12:16 IST News opinion Book Review | History In Motion: Razeen Sally's Journey Through Sri Lanka's Past And Present Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
24-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
UN Rights Chief Urges Sri Lanka To Ensure Accountability For Wartime Atrocities
The United Nations human rights chief urged Sri Lanka on Tuesday to ensure accountability for crimes committed during its protracted ethnic war. Volker Turk told a panel discussion in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo that the country must address the question of impunity during the Tamil separatist war, which was brought to a bloody conclusion in 2009. The UN has estimated that 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by government forces in the final months of its battle to defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels, who had fought for independence. Successive Sri Lankan governments have resisted calls for internationally backed independent investigations into horrific rights abuses, while several high-profile massacres of civilians remain unresolved. Turk said that Sri Lanka is currently in an "impunity trap", as the country emerges from an economic meltdown in 2022. "It is... vital to hold to account the perpetrators of the most severe crimes," he said. "Vital for justice, vital for deterrence, vital for the victims who have suffered inconceivable pain and loss, and vital for the future." Sri Lanka is "recovering from decades of division and violence, but also dealing with a deep economic crisis," he added, referring to Sri Lanka's 2022 meltdown, which led to the toppling of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Turk urged Sri Lanka to put an end to the "paroxysms of violence", to work towards a shared understanding of the events, and to ensure justice is served. Turk is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, where he is due to meet with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior government ministers. After initially agreeing with the UN Human Rights Council in 2015 to address war crimes -- an emotionally charged topic in an ethnically divided nation -- Sri Lanka's governments have since backtracked. The leftist administration of Dissanayake, who came to power in September with the overwhelming support of the Tamil minority, has yet to deliver on his pledges to ensure accountability for war crimes. His government in March criticised Britain for sanctioning three top retired military commanders and a former Tamil guerrilla over human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and sexual violence. The UN estimated that at least 100,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka's separatist conflict between 1972 and 2009. The fighting was brought to an end with the military launching a no-holds-barred offensive that wiped out the rebel leadership in May 2009. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN rights chief asks Sri Lanka to punish war criminals
COLOMBO - The United Nations human rights chief urged Sri Lanka on June 24 to ensure accountability for crimes committed during its protracted ethnic war. Mr Volker Turk told a panel discussion in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo that the country must address the question of impunity during the Tamil separatist war, which was brought to a bloody conclusion in 2009. The UN has estimated that 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by government forces in the final months of its battle to defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels, who had fought for independence. Successive Sri Lankan governments have resisted calls for internationally backed independent investigations into horrific rights abuses, while several high-profile massacres of civilians remain unresolved. Mr Turk said that Sri Lanka is currently in an 'impunity trap', as the country emerges from an economic meltdown in 2022. 'It is... vital to hold to account the perpetrators of the most severe crimes,' he said. 'Vital for justice, vital for deterrence, vital for the victims who have suffered inconceivable pain and loss, and vital for the future.' Sri Lanka is 'recovering from decades of division and violence, but also dealing with a deep economic crisis,' he added, referring to Sri Lanka's 2022 meltdown, which led to the toppling of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Mr Turk urged Sri Lanka to put an end to the 'paroxysms of violence', to work towards a shared understanding of the events, and to ensure justice is served. Mr Turk is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, where he is due to meet with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior government ministers. After initially agreeing with the UN Human Rights Council in 2015 to address war crimes – an emotionally charged topic in an ethnically divided nation – Sri Lanka's governments have since backtracked. The leftist administration of Mr Dissanayake, who came to power in September with the overwhelming support of the Tamil minority, has yet to deliver on his pledges to ensure accountability for war crimes. His government in March criticised Britain for sanctioning three top retired military commanders and a former Tamil guerrilla over human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and sexual violence. The UN estimated that at least 100,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka's separatist conflict between 1972 and 2009. The fighting was brought to an end with the military launching a no-holds-barred offensive that wiped out the rebel leadership in May 2009. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
