Washington [US], April 28: The US on Wednesday sanctioned former Sri Lankan navy commander WasanthaKarannagoda over human rights violations during the island's long civil war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Karannagoda, currently the governor of Sri Lanka's North Western Province, was being sanctioned "due to his involvement in a gross violation of human rights during his tenure as a Naval Commander." Blinken said the allegation that Karannagoda "committed a gross human rights violation, documented by NGOs and independent investigations, is serious and credible."
"By designating WasanthaKarannagoda, the US reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, ending impunity for human rights violators, acknowledging the suffering of victims and survivors, and promoting accountability for perpetrators in Sri Lanka," Blinken added.
Karannagoda and his wife, SrimathiAshokaKarannagoda, are now banned from entering the US. During the 26-year-long conflict that ended in 2009, Tamil rebels fought for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. More than 100,000 people were killed during the conflict.
Source: Qatar Tribune