• Regulations freeze any assets they may hold in Canada and render them  inadmissible to Canada
• Other two are Staff sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Lieutenant Commander Chandana Hettiarachchi

By Kelum Bandara   

Canada has imposed targeted sanctions on four Sri Lankans  including former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa  for what it called gross human rights violations.  The other two Sri Lankans sanctioned are staff sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Lieutenant Commander Chandana Hettiarachchi.    

A statement from the Canadian government said Foreign  Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, announced  Canada imposes 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.  

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. This jeopardizes progress on justice for affected  populations, and prospects for peace and reconciliation.  

Victims and survivors of gross human rights violations  deserve justice. That is why Canada continues to call on Sri Lanka to  fulfil its commitment to establish a meaningful accountability process.  

These sanctions send a clear message that Canada will not  accept continued impunity for those that have committed gross human  rights violations in Sri Lanka.  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. Canada, as part of the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the United  Nations Human Rights Council, will continue to advocate for the full  implementation of resolution 51/1 and support efforts towards attaining  accountability and peace on the island.  

Canada supports efforts towards urgent political and  economic reforms to alleviate the hardships faced by the people in Sri  Lanka. We strongly encourage the Sri Lankan government to promote  democracy and human rights and maintain the rule of law as it works to  address this crisis,” the statement said.  

Responding to the statement, a top source from the Sri  Lankan government said it was studying the latest development and would  come up with its response.   
“We just came to know it. We explore all avenues to respond to it,” the source said on condition of anonymity.  The Tamil Diaspora groups sounded elated about the latest  development. Comments from its activists in support of the Canadian  government’s action galore on social media platforms.