The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has submitted a list of more than 60 Sri Lankans, including military officers, for sanctions and travel bans. The submission, aimed at addressing human rights violations and economic crimes in Sri Lanka, has been sent to the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the European Union, and the United Nations.
In a statement, ITJP Executive Director Yasmin Sooka emphasized the importance of documenting both past and present crimes in the absence of criminal accountability. “It is essential to analyse evidence and use every avenue to establish the truth. We hope the new UK government will take action on Human Rights Day (December 10) this year, allowing accountability for alleged war crimes,” she said.
The ITJP’s submission outlines serious human rights violations and extensive corruption involving personnel from the Sri Lankan army, navy, air force, police, and intelligence services, as well as Tamil paramilitary groups and civil servants, including judges and former ministers. However, the South Africa-based organization refrained from disclosing the names of the individuals listed.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) had passed a resolution in March 2021, mandating the establishment of an external evidence-gathering mechanism to investigate alleged human rights violations during and after Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war. The ITJP’s efforts align with this mandate.
Notably, the ITJP has submitted extensive sanctions documents to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the European Union against two former Sri Lankan military chiefs: General Shavendra Silva in 2021 and General Jagath Jayasuriya in 2022. The United States has already imposed a travel ban on General Silva and his immediate family members. Other officials facing similar sanctions include Navy Intelligence Officer Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, Army Officer Prabath Bulathwatte, and former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, all accused of involvement in human rights abuses.
The ITJP’s actions represent a continued push for justice and accountability in Sri Lanka’s unresolved human rights and corruption issues.
