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Lasantha’s killing - Ahimsa to challenge US District Court verdict

22 October 2019 11:34 pm - 12     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Ahimsa Wickrematunge, daughter of the Sunday Leader Newspaper's slain Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge, is to challenge the verdict delivered by the United States District Court for the Central District of California in the lawsuit filed against the former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the extrajudicial killing of her father.

The Court delivered its verdict on Monday, October 22 claiming that Rajapaksa is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for the acts that are alleged - acts of torture, extrajudicial killings and crimes against humanity.

The reason for the Court to dismiss the case was that it lacks the jurisdiction to consider Ahimsa’s claim as ‘Rajapaksa is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for the acts that are alleged - acts of torture, extrajudicial killing, and crimes against humanity. The Court found that these acts were committed in his official capacity as Sri Lanka’s Secretary of Defense and the Court has not made any finding on the actual merits of the allegations against Rajapaksa, which includes his alleged responsibility for the extrajudicial killing of the plaintiff’s father and for the Sri Lankan Government’s campaign of violence against journalists during the civil war’.

However, Ahimsa Wickrematunge told Daily Mirror that her counsel will appeal against this judgement in the next few days and added that it was disappointing that those who were involved in her father’s murder were now roaming free but that she and her counsel would ensure that the perpetrators did not escape justice.

“An end to impunity is precisely what the Torture Victim Protection Act was designed to provide in cases like this. There is no immunity when government officials act outside their authority to torture or murder anyone. Rajapaksa must be held accountable in US courts,” Ahimsa said.

In her application to court she has stated that the reason for her to file the lawsuit against Rajapaksa in the US Court was because all her efforts to seek justice in Sri Lanka had failed as the then Defence Secretary and his allies obstructed the cases by tampering with witnesses and engaging in a pattern of coercion and intimidation.

Ahimsa said security forces under Rajapaksa’s command and control engaged in a widespread and systematic campaign against journalists, marked by a pattern and practice of violations including but not limited to extrajudicial killing; arbitrary detention; torture; and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in an effort to stamp out criticism of the Rajapaksa government.

In her application, she further states that Rajapaksa as the then Defence Secretary ordered her father’s arrest and filed a defamation suit against him and that intelligence services under Rajapaksa’s command began monitoring Lasantha Wickrematunge’s mobile telephone. Immediately before he was due to testify against the defendant, regarding an alleged corruption scandal, Lasantha Wickrematunge was brutally murdered in broad daylight by members of the Tripoli Platoon, a unit of Sri Lanka’s Directorate of Military Intelligence operating under the defendant’s command.  (Nirmala Kannangara)


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  Comments - 12

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  • Mm Wednesday, 23 October 2019 05:59 AM

    Why did you wait so long to bring this case to court ? A genuine daughter would have done so long ago. Your motive seems not to find your father’s killers but to tarnish someone name.

    Susil Gregory Wednesday, 23 October 2019 06:14 AM

    Ahimsa Do not waste your time. You may be getting funds from opponents of SLPP/Gota for this work. You should have done this long time ago. You should understand that majority of Sri Lankans want GR to win. They hate UNP.

    chris Wednesday, 23 October 2019 06:53 AM

    Ahimsa taking such a long time (10 years) to go to court discredits her, as her motives are suspect. media stunts like this will only help antogonise the security forces who will resolve to vote for the known devil rather than the unknown angel.

    hoodwinker Wednesday, 23 October 2019 07:20 AM

    Given the coverage of this article ,It is a Shame that no action has been taken by the authorities who vouched to bring necessary action 4 years ago, This goes to show when in power who is responsible to call the shots, Hon .Minister of justice up to you?

    Terrencekeyser@yahoo.com Wednesday, 23 October 2019 08:19 AM

    Leave no stone unturned to bring those who murdered your father to face punishment as his blood is crying from the earth

    patriot Wednesday, 23 October 2019 08:21 AM

    It's seems Ahimsa does not understand jurisdiction at all. Her supporters need to train her well.

    TONY Wednesday, 23 October 2019 08:34 AM

    GO AHEAD

    Sriyani Wednesday, 23 October 2019 09:12 AM

    Way to go girl, get closure on your dad. Gota is a ruthless murderer.

    Anura Wednesday, 23 October 2019 09:21 AM

    go daughter go ahead.. if hirunika could do that, you too can do.. we bless you

    Manu Wednesday, 23 October 2019 01:07 PM

    This is really political jealousy and revenge backed by UNPers.

    raaa Wednesday, 23 October 2019 03:46 PM

    it is sad that U.S court let war criminals unpunished

    lord paker Wednesday, 23 October 2019 05:13 PM

    Father like daughter, redeem your sole from Diaspora money!


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