CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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Military refutes US HR report
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By Dianne Silva
The Sri Lankan Military today refuted all allegations by a US Government report alleging continued Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka. “All these allegations are baseless,” Military Spokesperson Major General Ubaya Madawela told the Daily Mirror.
“The government and its agents continued to be responsible for serious human rights problems. Security forces committed arbitrary and unlawful killings, although the number of extrajudicial killings declined. Disappearances continued to be a problem, although the total also declined,” the report reads.
“The humanitarian operation was carried out under the law of war and we know that there have been no such acts committed by the armed forces,” Madawela said.
“Many independent observers cited a continued climate of fear among minority populations, in large part based on past incidents,” according to the report.
The military emphasised that it is working with civilians to rebuild the country and is receiving their full cooperation. “There is no necessity for people to live in fear they have seen the cooperative efforts of the Military for development activities in all areas of the country—especially those that were involved in the conflict,” the Military spokesperson said.
“Civil-Military cooperation has been at its peak and we are working with the people towards developing self employment opportunities and agricultural efforts as well as their overall economic development,” he added.
The Military Spokesperson further elaborated on the efforts by the armed forces to bring an air of cheer and prosperity during the New Year season. “We began hosting programmes in every Grama Seva Division from the 9th of this month, on the request of the people, and these will continue till the end of the month. These are aimed at letting all those in the country feel the joy and happiness of the season,” he said.
He further added that during the period of the war the Army adopted a “comprehensive approach” which was aimed at not merely the humanitarian operation but the rebuilding of the country after the war.
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