No war crimes charges can be brought against SL - Ranil

30 July 2011 01:05 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe said that no war crimes charges can be brought against Sri Lanka as the country is not a party to Rome Protocol on crimes against humanity.

Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is currently in London, told BBC Sandeshaya he did not discuss the accusations against the Sri Lanka government in his meetings with UK political leaders.

Mr Wickramasinghe has held discussion with British Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Foreign Office Minister Alastair Burt while attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting in London.

“We did not discuss war crimes. Anyway war crimes cannot be raised as I did not sign the Rome Protocol,” he said.

His comments come days after British Channel4 television aired another controversial footage that alleged Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s direct involvement in alleged war crimes.

The government has rejected the footage as biased. “I told the ministers that we prefer to discuss with the government and other parties to find a political settlement.”

Meanwhile, the opposition leader has told the British ministers that South Sudan should recognise Sri Lanka’s sovereignty if the country to be admitted to the Commonwealth.

He has made the comment after British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed support for South Sudan joining Commonwelath.

“South Sudan did have connections with Transnational Government of Tamil Ealam (TGTE) so I pointed out that South Sudan should not officially recognise the TGTE,” Mr Wickramasinghe told the BBC.

At a time even the people in the north and east of Sri Lanka have voted for a political solution under a united country, he said, it is not suitable to consider solutions against that wish.

“Anybody can have any dealings with anybody but my point was that South Sudan should not officially recognise TGTE as a government,” he said.

“The TGTE was convened in the United States. Although the US did not ban the TGTE, US recognise Sri Lanka’s sovereignty,” added the opposition leader.

Sri Lanka delegation at the CPA annual conference is headed by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. (BBCSinhala)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 21

roshan Sunday, 31 July 2011 12:17 AM

Good. you agree that the ppl been killed. but SLA cannot be punished due to not signed the rome protocol.

Unknown Monday, 01 August 2011 02:23 AM

Yeah.. That 's what he says........

David Sunday, 31 July 2011 10:12 AM

Of course you didn't sign because you couldn't. You never been the president of Sri Lanka.

dias Sunday, 31 July 2011 07:24 AM

Brain doors are getting open

I Hussein Sunday, 31 July 2011 06:54 AM

This is not to get popularity or to play cheap games. There is nothing wrong in RW supports the govt in this matter. SL must get out of this mess.

lalith de silva Sunday, 31 July 2011 06:09 AM

I think now Ranil is showing his true leadeship. This is slap on CBK at the right time. Keep it up and develop the county with bipartisian politcs

tma Sunday, 31 July 2011 03:28 AM

looks RW has a hidden agenda!

agasthi abeysinghe Sunday, 31 July 2011 02:49 AM

This is not ur topic 2day mr ranil.pls leave the leadership n think about the country,plsssss.we worship u be a gentleman .u are in england now ,work like a sudda .

C.K.Lankaputhra Sunday, 31 July 2011 12:44 AM

But they bring.

Kalu Sunday, 31 July 2011 12:39 AM

This is the kind of Ranil I was looking for years, talk behalf of your country... you can become next president !!! Wish you.

Saman Sunday, 31 July 2011 12:21 AM

What??????????????

Hipo Saturday, 30 July 2011 01:20 PM

This is the kind of leader we need for the UNP and in future for the country. Somebody with knowledge and foresight.

PuranAppuGe Saturday, 30 July 2011 05:08 PM

you mean we have licence to kill

valentine Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:56 PM

Buddies down should be happy. You solved the riddle.

sama Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:43 PM

who authorized him to sign the Rome protocol. he was never be a head of the state of Srilanka. like illegal and un-ethnic agreement signed with terror Prabakaran

pissu Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:32 PM

why wouldn't you say this about 6 months back when C4 aired it? Come on Ranil, You are a better politicians than this..Don't fall in to MR s tricks again. You fell in to Chandrikas antics and lost it all.

R.Dias Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:19 PM

FAKE PATRIOTISM........Rome Protocol was not signed not for your love for the Country but over scary retrospective impact it could have on you and MR.....but do not forget ...the final judge... the conscience ......

Appu Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:13 PM

Do our people understand what he says ???

Kivulegedara Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:04 PM

Yes. That's the way you must act before international community Mr. R.W. keep it up.

Bumba Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:03 PM

Ha!

Kenyan Lankan Saturday, 30 July 2011 04:02 PM

at last Ranil got brains be with are forces. small advice for you ranil, accept the mistakes you did (you were about to create a KOSOVO in sri lanka. Then definitely you will be a winner.....

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

No war crimes charges can be brought against SL - Ranil

Comments - 21

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

New Visa procedure implemented

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES