Major Gen. Sallay complains to UN, EU against Sooka and ITJP

Pic by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

State Intelligence Services of Sri Lanka (SIS) Director  Major General Suresh Sallay complained to the United Nations (UN) and  European Union (EU) yesterday against the Executive Director of the  International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) Ms. Yasmin Sooka for  alleged defamation. 

  According to Major General’s lawyer Pasan Weerasinghe,  Sallay through his lawyers had informed in writing to the UN and EU of  the recent conduct of Ms. Sooka and the ITJP. 

 
Mr. Weerasinghe stated that as per his client’s  instructions, he had informed to the UN that Ms. Sooka had recently made  several remarks that are defamatory in nature, violating his client’s  basic human rights, potentially endangering his life as well as contrary  to covenants of the ICCPR Act, which was found on their own motion of  UN.   

“It has been informed to the UN and the EU that Ms. Sooka  and the ITJP, on their UN and EU fame, has been granted funds from  various trusts and such other organisations to aid in achieving  reconciliation in 
Sri Lanka.   

Yet, the conduct of Ms. Sooka and the ITJP has been  contrary to the intended uses of the said grants and particularly, the  fact that these funds seem to be utilised for furthering the agendas of  entities sympathetic to the case of the LTTE and is impeding the spirits  reconciliation among communities in the country, Weerasinghe further  said.   

Sending a Letter of Demand (LOD) last week, Sallay demanded  LKR one Billion as damages from Sooka and the ITJP. The LOD stated that  on or about June 01, 2020, Ms. Yasmin Sooka, in her capacity as the  Executive Director of the ITJP has issued a media statement making  various defamatory remarks against the Major Gen.  

Yet, the conduct of Ms. Sooka and the ITJP has been  contrary to the intended uses of the said grants