• The Department of State is designating Bulathwatte for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights, namely torture and/or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of Sri Lankan journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

The US has imposed sanctions on another Sri Lankan military officer, Major Prabath Bulathwatte who was arrested on suspicion that he had assisted in the abduction and torture of senior Sri Lankan journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008.

The US took this action on Friday on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day as part of its actions to promote accountability for corruption and human rights abuse around the world.   According to the State Department, the US imposed sanctions on Prabath Bulathwatte, former head of a clandestine Army platoon, known as the ‘Tripoli Platoon.’

Pursuant to Section 7031(c), the Department of State is designating Bulathwatte for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights, namely torture and/or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of Sri Lankan journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008, the office of the spokesperson of the US Department of State said.   According to the office, these actions include financial sanctions. The actions also include visa restrictions pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programmes Appropriations Act as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act, and pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).