Sri former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and four others have been sanctioned by Canada.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolley today announced the imposition of targeted sanctions under regulations under the Special Economic Measures Act against four Sri Lankan government officials responsible for gross and systematic human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s armed conflict. The Canada.ca website has reported that sanctions have been imposed on her who worked between 1983 and 2009.
Sanctions have been imposed on the four former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Navy Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hetty Arachchi.
The regulations impose a transaction ban on listed individuals pursuant to the Canadian Special Economic Measures Act, which effectively freezes any assets they may have in Canada and renders them inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Despite continued calls from Canada and the international community to address accountability, the Sri Lankan government has taken limited meaningful and concrete steps to uphold its human rights obligations. This has jeopardized progress on justice for affected populations and prospects for peace and reconciliation.
Justice must be served to victims and survivors of human rights violations. That is why Canada continues to urge Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitment to establish a meaningful accountability process.
These sanctions send a clear message that Canada will not accept continued impunity for those who committed human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
Canada will continue to collaborate with international partners, including through relevant multilateral institutions, to advocate for human rights and accountability in Sri Lanka, an important step towards securing a secure, peaceful and inclusive future for the country. Canada, as part of the UN Human Rights Council Core Group on Sri Lanka, will continue to advocate for the full implementation of Resolution 51/1 and support efforts to achieve accountability and peace on the island.
Canada supports efforts for urgent political and economic reforms to alleviate the hardships faced by the people of Sri Lanka. We strongly encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law as it works to resolve this crisis, Canada.ca reported.
In addition to today’s announcement, and in response to the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, Canada announced $3 million for appeals launched by the United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to meet immediate needs, including food security and livelihoods. , shelter and non-food items, as well as nutritional assistance and primary health care for vulnerable children and women. The website further reported that Canada has restructured ongoing international assistance projects to meet the needs of the World Health Organization for the procurement of essential medical equipment and supplies.