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Compensate me for my arbitary arrest: Samadanam

12 April 2019 09:24 pm - 14     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Roy Samadanam, a Sri Lankan now holding Canadian citizenship said he had filed action in the US against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa through the International Project for Truth and Justice with the intention of obtaining compensation for his arbitrary arrest and the torture he suffered on the alleged orders of then defence secretary Rajapaksa.

He expressed these views during an interview held at Pamlico in Central London.

Mr. Samadanam said the action he had brought against Mr. Rajapaksa should in no way interfere with the renouncing of his American citizenship and would not prevent him from realizing his dream of becoming the president of Sri Lanka, but it is regrettable to note that Mr. Rajapaksa’s supporters are attempting to use this case as a cause to win public sympathy.

He said with his arbitrary arrest he underwent torture and much suffering.

“I was arrested in 2007 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and detained at the Boossa Camp. I was tortured there. I was acquitted in 2010 and as I could not live any further in Sri Lanka I went to Canada. While in Canada I obtained legal advice from an institution connected with International law. I submitted a petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2013. This council investigated my petition and in 2015 informed the Sri Lankan Government of its ruling. The ruling said I was subjected to torture and the Sri Lankan Government should pay compensation within six months. But up to now the government had not taken any action regarding this ruling. Therefore, I waited patiently until an opportunity presented to me to obtain justice and after so much waiting I filed action in America”.

“I was taken into custody by the IGP acting on the orders of Mr. Rajapaksa. I made several attempts to bring them to Court but he slipped away using his position as the defence secretary. Despite Mr. Rajapaksa visiting the US on several occasions I could not file court action, and thought that this time it was opportune to file action in obtaining justice. I was taken into custody not on a court order but on the orders of Mr. Rajapaksa and I was subjected to torture. Therefore, he is responsible. I was the one who underwent so much suffering and therefore, I am trying to obtain the compensation due to me,” he said. (A P Mathan in London)


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  Comments - 14

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  • Mm Saturday, 13 April 2019 09:19 AM

    I’m glad ppl like you left Sri Lanka. But wish you heal and let us heal too.

    Lord Wolfstein Saturday, 13 April 2019 05:50 PM

    It would be better if people like you left the country who are supporting a cruel criminal.

    Andy Saturday, 13 April 2019 11:35 AM

    In these cased we normally hear only one side of the story. There can be mistakes in any arrests, but i do not think that defense forces had interests in arresting and detaining unwanted people with the amount of work they had during that time.

    DillonDP Saturday, 13 April 2019 08:25 PM

    Ha ha Andy i guess you live in your fairytale world

    ravindra megaha Saturday, 13 April 2019 04:49 PM

    Nice an d good story to let down country and get a asylum . Thank you pp. stay in Canada and make more stores against sri Lanka.

    kumar Sunday, 14 April 2019 11:27 AM

    He already got asylum. Filing a lawsuit won't change anything.

    Chan Kelum Senanayake Saturday, 13 April 2019 04:58 PM

    Mistakes do happen. Don't forget the torture the rest of the country had to undergo for 30 yrs, bomb blasts all over the place, taking lives and limbs. There were a lot like you who said 'our boys are giving a good fight' and financially supported the war. Your friends in Canada destroyed the education of children in the North for so long and just destroyed the prospects of two generations. Just like Churchill had to stop the Nazis, so did the Rajapakses and peace loving people of SL can and never forget that. Yet, none of us liked what they did after,and the polls proved it. People in SL just want peace and harmony and the majority are a fair lot. It is those who wanted to carve a piece of this tiny isle, was the ultimate reason why a lot of 'innocent' people got tortured. Let them know that when Oh Canada celebrates Maha Viru Day.

    Lost Lankan Saturday, 13 April 2019 05:46 PM

    We heard so many of this kind of act by former DS GR. However few came to light and the rest did not make the head lines due to fear for the remaining family members. They took it onto themselves and learned to live silently with the wounds. If there is so called karma still exists this boomerang will come back and hurt tribble generation to come. Even the current HE failed to bring them to law who also will pay the consequences for the promises he made to acquire the power in 2015.

    P. de. silva Saturday, 13 April 2019 06:00 PM

    Oh! now only he woke up from his day dreams, sin poor guy must have been reborn in Canada with a luxurious life and must be thinking with the backup of the LTTE diaspora to creates problems against the born countryman. Must be thinking if its worked be a lottery. These kind of people are like barking dogs. Living in another country and making problems. Because cannot steps in to the country by having bad records. Even to say shame is too good for these sorts of people .

    kumar Sunday, 14 April 2019 11:29 AM

    War criminals must be punished

    R Bhageerathan Saturday, 13 April 2019 06:15 PM

    Yes, they would rather arrest and kill.

    RuwanL Saturday, 13 April 2019 07:16 PM

    Why were you arrested? I know a person who was arrested because he sold his car and the car was subsequently used for a suicide bomb! He was later released! There should have been some reason for the arrest

    Jude Sunday, 14 April 2019 02:07 AM

    Under the laws of 1951 Refugees Convention, no rufugee allowed to go BACK to the home country WHERE refugee claims that the person was tortured !!!

    Lord Wolfstein Monday, 15 April 2019 10:06 AM

    @Chan Kelum Senanayake. How can you compare a great statesman like Winston Churchill to a criminal like MR?


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