Authorities in Sri Lanka refused to press charges against a former naval officer who is accused of having played a role in the abduction of 11 Tamil youths in 2008-2009 in Colombo, shattering hopes for thousands of Tamil families seeking justice for the disappearance of their relatives. Amnesty International, in a statement, sought an explanation from the Sri Lankan government. 

Wasantha Korannagoda, a former Sri Lankan Navy commander, is one among 14 Naval Intelligence officers, accused of having played a role in the disappearance of 11 youths, all ethnic Tamil, in Colombo between 2008-2009. On Wednesday, the Office of Attorney General informed the Colombo High Court that charges against him will not be moved forward.

Reacting to the move, Amnesty International released a statement, seeking an explanation from the Office of Attorney General. The watchdog also reminded that the island nation has the second-highest number of forcibly disappeared people in the world. 

“Sri Lankan authorities must deliver truth, justice, and reparations for all victims of enforced disappearance,” Yamini Mishra, the Asia-Pacific director of Amnesty International said in the statement.

“This case was an opportunity for the Sri Lankan authorities to deliver justice for crimes under international law, by ensuring that those reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility, including those implicated for aiding and abetting and under command responsibility, are brought to trial,” she said in the statement. 

The country had fought a brutal civil war for over four decades and during the course, many civilians disappeared or were abducted. Sri Lankan forces and intelligence agencies have been accused of committing many of these crimes during the last leg of the war fought between 2005 to 2009. 

Over the years, despite international pressure, the Sri Lankan government has blocked or scuttled inquiries in many of these cases where former or serving officers are accused. 

Furthermore, the Rajapaksa government's relations with the EU and the US deteriorated over the issue and the overall human rights situation in the country. In June this year, the EU parliament had passed a resolution, recommending temporary suspension of the GSP Plus status of Sri Lanka. 

(SAM)