Canada Imposes Sanctions on Four Sri Lankan Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Including the Rajapaksa Brothers

Canada has imposed sanctions against four Sri Lankan state officials including former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa for “gross and systematic violations of human rights” during the armed conflict in the island nation, which occurred from 1983 to 2009, an official release of the Government of Canada said.

Along with the Rajapaksa brothers, Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Lt Commander Chandana P Hettiarachchithe were also being put under sanctions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Melanie Joly, announced on Tuesday that the country has imposed targeted sanctions under regulations pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act against four Sri Lankan state officials responsible for gross and systematic violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, which occurred from 1983 to 2009.

“The regulations pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act impose on listed persons a dealings prohibition, which would effectively freeze any assets they may hold in Canada and render them inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,” the official release of Global Affairs Canada, a department of the Government of Canada read.

Despite continued calls from Canada and the international community to address accountability, the Government of Sri Lanka has taken limited meaningful and concrete action to uphold its human rights obligations which jeopardizes progress on justice for affected populations and prospects for peace and reconciliation, the release added.

According to the official news release, Canada will continue to collaborate alongside international partners, including through relevant multilateral bodies to advocate for human rights and accountability in Sri Lanka, which is an important step toward securing a safe, peaceful and inclusive future for the country.