20 April, 2024

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Arrest Warrant On Brigadier Priyanka Fernando Withdrawn: ICPPG Expresses Severe Disappointment

The International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution Genocide today expressed severe disappointment with the Westminster Magistrate’s Court’s decision to withdraw the arrest warrant on Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, former Defence Attachè of the Sri Lankan High Commission in the United Kingdon, due to “increasing political pressure.”

The organization, issuing a statement, said, “The Public Interest Law Centre was contacted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was informed that the arrest warrant had been withdrawn and the matter relisted on 1 February 2019. The Court did not relist the matter before withdrawing the arrest warrant which is entirely unacceptable.”

“After the 21st January 2019 hearing, it has come to our attention, that the Sri Lankan Government acknowledged the proceedings in November 2018 and elected not to participate in the proceedings. A Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saroja Sirisena, has also said publicly that the Sri Lankan Government had made submissions to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) objecting to the ruling of the court. It is real shame that the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Army Spokesperson and President’s Counsel Dr. Jayatissa de Costa attempted to knowingly mislead the public and the FCO by falsely claiming that the summons were not served on Brigadier Priyanka Fernando and the trial in absence is against the natural justice despite clear evidence that this is untrue,” the ICPPG added.

“It is also important to note that the objections filed at the FCO are also based on these baseless allegations. Any sensible person would appreciate that a Judge in the UK must have no doubt considered these before proceeding with the trial and raising such objection blindly is childish. According to Mr Sirisena, the FCO then contacted the Westminster Magistrates Court regarding those objections. It is unclear on what basis the FCO has sought to intervene in the judicial process,” the statement also said.

The full statement issued by the ICPPG is as follows:

Arrest Warrant issued against the Former Sri Lankan Military Attaché, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando by the Westminster Magistrate’s Court had been withdrawn due to Political Interference and Pressure! 

A shame to the Independence of the British Judiciary!! 

The International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) is extremely disappointed to announce that the Arrest Warrant issued against Brigadier Priyanka Fernando by the Westminster Magistrates Court had been withdrawn without any due process. We believe this is due to the misleading information fed by the Sri Lankan authorities and the political intervention. This raises serious questions on the independency of the British Legal system and the Judiciary. 

On 4th February 2018, the Sri Lankan Diplomat, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, who is a known war criminal in Sri Lanka, was filmed issuing death threats to the diaspora Tamils and British Citizens who were peacefully demonstrating outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London.  Several diaspora Tamils and British Citizens felt intimidated and reported to the British Police. The International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) initiated a high-level diplomatic campaign urging UK Government and the FCO to declare the Sri Lankan Military Attaché, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, the known War Criminal, a “Persona Non Grata”, for committing criminal offences under the British law on the 70th Independence Day of Sri Lanka and 70 years of Genocide of Tamils. Given the British Police refused to arrest him on the basis of the diplomatic immunity, the ICPPG encouraged the victims and assisted them to seek legal advice and open a private prosecution under the guidance of our legal advisor Geeth Kulasegaram. Accordingly, a private prosecution was filed at the Westminster Magistrates Court on 06th February 2018. Paul Heron and Helen Mowatt of Public Interest Law Centre of The Public Interest Law Centre was instructed to advise and represent the prosecutors during the proceedings The Sri Lankan Diplomat, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, was found guilty in absentia on Monday, 21st January 2019 in Westminster Magistrate’s Court of two charges under the Public Order Act (sections 4a and 5) for thrice making throat slitting gestures against Tamil demonstrators outside the High Commission in London on 4th February 2018. He was found guilty of intending to and causing harassment, alarm and distress with his gestures, which were made after he had taken photos and videoed Tamil protestors. The panel of three honourable British Judges, headed by the Chief Magistrate Ms Sonia Henley, who carefully considered the evidence, found Brigadier Priyanka Fernando guilty and issued an Arrest Warrant, without bail.  

After the 21st January 2019 hearing, it has come to our attention, that the Sri Lankan Government acknowledged the proceedings in November 2018 and elected not to participate in the proceedings.  A Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saroja Sirisena, has also said publicly that the Sri Lankan Government had made submissions to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) objecting to the ruling of the court. It is real shame that the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Army Spokesperson and President’s Counsel Dr. Jayatissa de Costa attempted to knowingly mislead the public and the FCO by falsely claiming that the summons were not served on Brigadier Priyanka Fernando and the trial in absence in against the natural justice despite clear evidence that that this is untrue. It is also important to note that the objections filed at the FCO are also based on these baseless allegations. Any sensible person would appreciate that a Judge in the UK must have no doubt considered these before proceeding with the trial and raising such objection blindly is childish. According to Mr Sirisena, the FCO then contacted the Westminster Magistrates Court regarding those objections. It is unclear on what basis the FCO has sought to intervene in the judicial process.

Unbelievably, Public Interest Law Centre was contacted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was informed that the arrest warrant had been withdrawn and the matter relisted on 1 February 2019. The Court did not relist the matter before withdrawing the arrest warrant which is entirely unacceptable.

The International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) which is facilitating this prosecution with the legal representations from the Public Interest Law Chambers, is taking this issue extremely seriously and now written the the FOC demanding a full disclosure. The ICPPG believes this is a disgrace to the integrity of the British Legal system and such interference in the Judiciary should not be allowed in the UK. The ICPPG still believes in the British Judiciary and continue to hope that the justice will be restored.  The ICPPG will continue to facilitate the prosecution and continue to challenge this with the invaluable legal advice of the Public Interest Law Centre. 

The ICPPG also calls upon all the Mainstream Medias, Tamil Diaspora Organisations, Human Rights Activists, Judges, Law Makers, Lawyers, British Politicians and the APPTG to take this further and demand justice as the political interference in the legal system should not be tolerated.   

About the ICPPG;

The formation of the International Centre for the Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) in London was initiated by Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE). The ICPPG, however operates as an independent body, serving all people who have been affected by or threatened with genocide. Its immediate focus remains the genocide that occurred in Sri Lanka. The ICPPG remains as an International Non-Governmental Organisation and an Independent Legal Body and one of our primary objectives is to collect evidence against perpetrators of genocide and work towards justice, peace and reconciliation. 

We operate under the guidance of Professor Muthucumaraswamy Sornarajah LLB (Ceylon), LLM (Yale), LLM, PhD, LLD (London) is CJ Koh Professor at the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore. He is Visiting Professor at the Centre for Human Rights, London School of Economics. He was the Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor of International Law at the University of Malaya at Kuala Lumpur. He was Head of the Law School of the University of Tasmania, Australia. He studied law at the University of Ceylon, the London School of Economics, King’s College, London and the Yale Law School.

We began assisting the Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) investigations on Sri Lanka by submitting testimonies and organising victim interviews in 2014. In its resolution A/HRC/25/1 adopted in March 2014 on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”, the UNHRC requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to “undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), and to establish the facts and circumstances of such alleged violations and of the crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability, with assistance from relevant experts and special procedures mandate holders”. The Council requested the High Commissioner to present an oral update at its twenty-seventh session and a comprehensive report on the investigations at its twenty-eighth session. In accordance with this mandate, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights established the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL), based in Geneva. The final report of the OISL commission was published in September 2015 confirming the serious violations, abuses of human rights and war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan authorities. In the basis of this report, we continue to work with international prosecutors with a view to brining criminal and civil prosecutions. 

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Latest comments

  • 19
    24

    -This is Tamil professors making British Magistrate Court a Joke. Does that court have TV telecasting of the court drama too ?

  • 22
    26

    “Due to political pressure???” That is utter bulls…..
    The court case against Brigadier Priyanka Fernando is a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention by the British Government.
    Three Cheers to you Ravinatha!!!! Impressive!!!

    • 15
      16

      A section of the diaspora Tamils has given a run around to the British judiciary while making it a laughing stock among both Sri Lankans and the British.
      What do these British magistrates take into consideration when making a judgement involving a diplomat? I’m not surprised when the Brit attorney general and his prosecution team act exactly like their counterparts in Sri Lanka.
      CT! Thank you for reporting the matter as it unravels.

      • 19
        15

        Raj
        Ha ha ha, sour grapes!
        From the time LTTE diaspora tried to label military officials as war criminals, they have become a laughing stock of the world.
        Now it is time for British Judiciary to prosecute all LTTE terrorists, who are domiciled in UK, one by one, for making them a laughing stock.

    • 11
      9

      According to Champa, Jamal Kashogi’s murder is a not a murder… ha haha..7
      Oldest profession is above anything else.
      .
      A Saudi prosecutor has asked for the death penalty for five of 11 suspects held over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the country’s consulate in Istanbul on 2 October, the state news agency SPA reported on Thursday.

      The call came during the first court hearing in the Khashoggi case, which has shredded the kingdom’s international reputation and strained its relations with Turkey, the US and many other western governments.

      In a trial that is likely to have major international diplomatic consequences, the 11 defendants appeared in court on Thursday in a session closed to the public.

      In late October the Saudis said they had detained 18 suspects in relation to the murder, but the names have not been shared with Turkish authorities.

      The Saudi general prosecution said the interrogation of a number of the accused would continue, adding that two requests asking for further evidence had been sent to Turkey but had not received any response.

      The Saudi prosecution said that following the hearing in the case the defendants asked for a copy from the prosecutors and sought time to make their defence

      • 9
        13

        babanpanchi
        Did a diplomat or diplomats kill Jamal Kashogi or was it done by outsiders?
        For your information, the Vienna Convention is international law, which was in place for centuries.

        • 0
          1

          “the Vienna Convention is international law, which was in place for centuries.”. ……
          Centuries????… How foolish is this Champa Lady? I think this is one of the worst problem we have… Lot of people don’t know that even UN (1945), Geneva Convention(1969) , UNHRC (1950) are founded/adopted very recently. Lot of people don’t know how few intelligent people fought hard to start/establish these Orgs and bring up to this stage in last 60~70 years in human civilization….
          To Understand this, One should try to imagine the world today without UN , Maritime Boundaries, Geneva Convention to appreciate them..
          People or countries never helped to improve Human civilization in universal level used to blame these Universal Orgs as NOT perfect.. Obviously General SBs are one of these nations..

          • 0
            0

            AVB
            I pity you.
            The ancient international law which is adopted by modern Vienna Convention goes back to THOUSANDS of YEARS actually, not centuries.
            The ancient diplomacy was practiced by ancient Greece, Rome, India and even Lanka under the system of open covenants (arriving in cities openly.)
            1.) The first Greek diplomatic missions headed by ambassadors (the chief negotiators) were sent between Greek city states in the 5th Century B.C.
            2.) Then Romans imitated Greek diplomatic missions and developed it to a sophisticated and elaborated system by introducing regulations in receiving diplomatic missions and according special courtesies, privileges and immunities.
            3.) Ancient Indian diplomacy has adopted four concepts, i.e. Saama, Daana, Bheda and Danda (Kautalya’s Arthasaastra)
            4.) a.) Ancient Lanka officially receiving foreign diplomatic missions goes back to 3rd Century BC with the Buddhist Diplomatic Mission sent by Indian Emperor Asoka.
            b.) Ancient Lanka’s (Taprobane’s) first foreign diplomatic mission (trade) was sent by sub-King Mahanaga of the Kingdom of Ruhuna (brother of King Devanampitatissa) in the 3rd Century BC to Rome with an ambassador and 3 other diplomats when the traveller/freedman Plocamus returned to Rome ending his 6 months’ stay under sub-King Mahanaga’s hospitality (according to Roman Writer Pliny the Elder’s “Natural History”.)
            The MODERN “Vienna Convention of 1961” has incorporated ancient Greek concept of open covenants and ancient Roman concept of privileges, immunities and special courtesies, which was adopted on May 23, 1969.

    • 14
      15

      The ICPPG says “It is unclear on what basis the FCO has sought to intervene in the judicial process.” Ha ha ha
      Tigers and their supporters in London who previously had their homes in the jungle with barbarian Prabhakaran are unable to understand the heads or tails of privileges and immunities accorded to diplomats and other agreements, rules, and standards codified in the Vienna Convention.
      The British FCO’s action is very much belated.
      Otherwise, in view of the privileges and immunities granted to Brigadier Priyanka Fernando as the Defence Attache, under the Vienna Convention, they (FCO) were supposed to make submissions to the British Justice Ministry and stop the case being taken up at all. Clearly, the British FCO is manipulated and controlled by LTTE diaspora.
      I vehemently object to ICPPG’s claim that Brigadier Priyanka Fernando was a war criminal in Sri Lanka. Show evidence to your claim, idiots. In which court he was prosecuted?
      On the contrary, all LTTE terrorists living in UK are wanted blood thirsty terrorists who committed crimes against humanity.
      The biggest joke is, LTTE diaspora terrorists who massacred innocent civilians in Sri Lanka for 30 years, now crying foul at a hand signal which is not a crime.
      As usual, the LTTE diaspora terrorists, who are mastered in false propaganda have “multiplied” the hand signal in the video, too.
      In the first place, LTTE diaspora terrorists were not supposed to come in close proximity to High Commission premises and therefore, their claim has no validity as they themselves have violated a Police order by being there.
      Finally, hats off to the new Foreign Secretary, Ravinatha Aryasinha for kneeling down LTTE diaspora (nothing new to him, I believe), saving the dignity of our Brigadier and bringing joy and pride to our country and to Sinhalese.

      • 1
        2

        “Saving the dignity of our Brigadier and bringing joy and pride to our country and to Sinhalese”.

        Come on Champa what are you talking? I am sure it its the effect of imported stuff that flooding into the country. Pride to our country and the Sinhalese – come on when and where did you discover this? I am sure it is a recent discovery, may be after October 26th miris kudu yuddha? Whole world saw the pride of the sinhala pride!

        ha….what mahavamsa told is coming light with the pride of lion having a time with a princess and then came the long history? Very funny Champa. By the way are you still in SL or in some other land of plenty and prosperity?

        • 0
          0

          Nathan
          Mahawamsa’s adults only part of Vijaya Hora’s grandfather has nothing to do with the origin of Sinhalese. The story narrated therein can be seen in ancient Indian art, not in ancient Lankan art.
          Vijaya Hora came only with 700 other bandits and there was no record whatsoever whether all the bandits were survived. Moreover, Vijaya Hora didn’t have children from his Indian bride. A handful of people can’t make a countrywide nation.
          A large part of Sinhalese population are definitely not descendants of Vijaya Hora as when he visited Lanka, there were many tribes.
          I am sure your pea-brain can grasp the truth.

    • 9
      6

      Yeah, let’s protect and support those who disgrace our country wearing the uniform of our armed forces, let us treat them like heroes.

      • 3
        5

        Maya
        What disgrace?
        What do you expect a military officer to do when LTTE terrorists who are exiled in UK, along with other terrorist supporters protest in front of the SL High Commission against Sri Lanka on her National Day, and throw our National Flag to the ground and trample and desecrate it?
        Do you expect him to hide in his office like a coward or do you expect him to confront terrorists and answer them in a language that they can understand?
        If you don’t know, our Sinhalese history is full of such brave actions.
        In March 2, 1815, when a British soldier hoisted the Union Jack at the signing ceremony which was held in Kandy, to hand over our country to the British, Venerable Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Thero pulled down the Union Jack and re-hoisted our Lion Flag, right in front of the brutal British Military, declaring that until the (treacherous) Kandyan Convention is signed, the country is still belonged to Sinhalese and that until such time, our Lion Flag will fly, an action which stunned the British.
        {The Thero, who protected the Sacred Tooth Relics in a secret place in Hanguranketa (which was later handed over to Monarawila Keppetipola), was captured during the Rebellion in 1818 and incarcerated in Fort Prison in Jaffna. That reminds me to leave a word to the Army Commander to NOT to remove the Army Camp from Jaffna Fort. We have precious memories there.}
        .
        There is another issue.
        The slave government has allowed US to use our soil as a transferring hub for weaponry, undercover of logistics and commerce, denying our Customs conducting examination and assessment of these “special US freight”, which is against our law.
        This is a violation of our sovereignty and security.
        Every Sinhalese should rise against this action!!!!!!

  • 20
    12

    Known War Criminal????
    Where did that come from? If they want to go after war criminals, Adele Balasingham is right in their backyard.

    While they are at it, they can haul in Tony Blair, David Cameron and Gordon Brown for the War Crimes committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria.

    I also noticed that the 2 legal eagles of the ICPPG got their free education in Sri Lanka.

    • 10
      6

      Rajiv Tennekoon

      “While they are at it, they can haul in Tony Blair, David Cameron and Gordon Brown for the War Crimes committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria.”

      Clever point.
      I don’t know why anyone else hadn’t thought about it.
      I remember in Nov 2013 David Cameron had a brilliant working holiday in Sri Lanka and Tony Blair too had a fantastic private holiday in Aug 2015.
      You have missed two chances.
      You should have dragged both all the way to Hague for their part in various war crimes committed throughout the world.
      I still cannot understand how you missed two opportunities in the past and worried how you could persuade others to haul Tony Blair, David Cameron and Gordon Brown and charge them for their involvement in all War Crimes.

      • 5
        7

        Native Vedda,
        Sri Lankan’s are not in the habbit of interfering with issues of other countries. That’s a Western trait – do as we say, not as we do.

        My suggestion was for the ICPPG to go after all war criminals, perceived or otherwise, because it looks like they have made that their business and the people I named are in their own backyard.

        I also noticed that, in your reply, you very conveniently avoided discussing Adele Balasingham.

        • 1
          1

          Rajiv Tennekoon

          “I also noticed that, in your reply, you very conveniently avoided discussing Adele Balasingham.”

          You also conveniently avoide to notice many important issues.
          I doubt you are a regular visitor to this CT.
          FYI my position all along is that all persons who had committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, in this island …………. should be investigated and deal within Truth and Reconciliation process, including the period from 5th April 1971 to date irrespective of the persons affiliation to institutions state or otherwise.

          If you are so serious about war crimes you could start with KP, Karuna, Pillayan, Douglas, the persons held in detention for many years, Gota, Udugampola, Sarath Fonseka, Jegath Dias, ……………… STF, Army, Navy, ………… Airforce, …. Green Tigers, … Muslim Home Guards and Hindians.

        • 1
          0

          You have been busy killing your own people

  • 11
    7

    “The ICPPG also calls upon all the Mainstream Medias, Tamil Diaspora Organisations, Human Rights Activists, Judges. Lawyers, British Politicians, and the APPTG to take this further and demand justice as the political interference in the legal system should not be tolerated”.

    The British Foreign Office is being accused of shredding diplomatic files from the beginning of the 80’s about the Tamil uprisings in SL. It is no secret that from the Thatcher days all UK governments had played a role in colluding with the SL government against Tamil militants who were all perceived as left wing.

    (The right wing fascistic LTTE is an exception. It killed more Tamils).

    But that apart ,. the news is that most diplomatic files and papers relating to the said support provided by the MI5 and the SAS had or are been destroyed.
    In this regard it would be useful to remember how in 1984 SL’s Defence Secretary Sepala Attygale’s made a secret visit to Belfast to obtain information from the head of the Ulster Constabulary about dealing with counter insurgency measures.
    .The said visit had taken place following the culling of Valvettithurai civilians. .

  • 11
    12

    Now what will the ruthless ISIS think about Britain. Won’t they take an upper hand? Brigadier Priyanka Fernando should have been brought to court and later, if there is no sufficient evidence, the case could have been withdrawn. Britain should have set an example. .

    • 1
      4

      No war crimes, almost 10 years…… impossible.. No eelam either … nandree

  • 7
    10

    Anyone who is against Eelam is colluding with the Sinhala Buddhist racists. For example Trump, British Foreign Office, Belfast Passport Office, Duarte, Mickey Mouse, Tiger Protection Society of Zambia, the Kardashians, …..

    • 8
      1

      Taraki

      “For example Trump, British Foreign Office, Belfast Passport Office, Duarte, Mickey Mouse, Tiger Protection Society of Zambia,For example Trump, British Foreign Office, Belfast Passport Office, Duarte, Mickey Mouse, Tiger Protection Society of Zambia, the Kardashians, ….., …..”

      The Kardashians, …..????
      What has Armenian stone carvers got to do with Eelam?
      Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse ?????

      • 3
        5

        Native

        ‘What has Armenian stone carvers got to do with Eelam?
        Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse ?????’

        Everything. They are all figments of the imagination.

        • 8
          0

          Taraki

          “Everything. They are all figments of the imagination.”

          If it was the case then everything should have been in Mahawansa including Sri Lankan armed forces single handedly winning the war, by holding UN charter in one hand, one hand tied behind the back, and welcoming and helping liberated Tamils with both hands, ………….

          • 0
            0

            No Veddah, that is just Tamil propaganda, very real and very dangerous.

            • 1
              0

              Taraki

              It is not Tamil propaganda, in fact Dr Mahinda said this on the record on TV followed by flurry of media reporting (lying).

              I was wondering how blessed were/are the Sinhala/Buddhist soldiers.

    • 2
      0

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  • 1
    0

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  • 10
    5

    Apparently, the ‘throat cutting gesture’ even by a diplomat is NOT thought to be a serious threat to the British Tamil civilians – just like gestures and threats by Gnanasara.
    In Sri Lanka where torture and deaths in custody have been occurring regularly, gestures are very mild threats.
    Thus, the military oppression in the north and east are merely disregarded, as normal behaviour, by military diplomats and Buddhist clergy.

  • 5
    6

    Good to see this war hero walk proudly. The Tamil Diaspora should be put on trial for supporting mass genocide in S. Lanka for 3 decades, while their children enjoyed the comfort of Western luxuries.

    • 7
      3

      Silly, whatever the outcome of this private prosecution is, it is a reminder that war criminals cannot be walking around with a peace of mind outside of Sri lanka. The fact that he was recalled after this debacle, running with the tail between his legs just like your other war hero ambassador from Brazil, itself is a slap on your war hero. As for the British, we know they have colluded and are colluding with the Sri Lankan state, just like they do with the Saudis and their role in Yemen war, nothing new.

    • 8
      4

      Lester,
      More than 75,000 of the war “heros” deserted the forces as they felt ashamed of being compelled to murder fellow citizens, mainly civilians, and most took their guns home with them – which are now being used in crime. Many ‘amnesties’ were offered to entice them back.
      Tamils who had the means, escaped to countries which accepted them, knowing what is happening in Sri Lanka.
      Many Sinhalese too complained of ‘threats’ and “escaped” !!

      This particular ‘hero’, led the mass killings in the last days of the war and, those civilians left alive and taken away in buses, have ‘disappeared’.

      • 1
        0

        Justice,

        Of course the Tamils had some legitimate grievances, as does a minority in any country, but these should have been addressed through a legislative process, not suicide bombs and cyanide capsules. The Tamils wanted separation long before the LTTE, starting with 50-50 representation in 1948 ( a silly resolution which they knew Sinhalese will never agree to) and culminating with the “Vaddukodai Resolution” (official demand for separate state) in 1976. Once the high-caste Jaffna clan lost control of their LTTE pets, Prabhakaran simply eliminated all the other rivals and consolidated power for himself. So it was the caste dynamics that paved the way for an LTTE dictatorship, not the SLA. Even with a “Tamil Eelam” in place, few expatriates would have returned, as no one wants to live in a dictatorship. Whatever “atrocities” were committed by the SLA, we can say that Tamils dug their own hole by choosing the LTTE as sole representatives.

        • 1
          0

          Lester

          “Of course the Tamils had some legitimate grievances, as does a minority in any country, “

          I am sorry, what were/are the legitimate grievances the Tamils had/have?

          “but these should have been addressed through a legislative process,”

          Okay, the democratic legislative process didn’t work for the best part of this island history. As someone who believes in legislative process tell the world how best to deal with the unbending, uncaring, …. majoritarian mindset in order to address what you call legitimate grievances?

          The unbending, uncaring, …. majoritarian mindset’s failure brought the Hindians to deal with it when they came with a big bang, Chapatti flour bombing, … and caught JR by his b***s, resulted in 13th Amendments.-

          The stupid majority should realize this inertia driven island is ready for another Hindian invasion through back door, because it refuses to acknowledge the problems nor ready to act upon it.

          Please don’t give us your usual one sided bull.

  • 8
    5

    Karuna, the former LTTE deputy is a war criminal…….
    ……..-Priyanka Fernando is a war hero and NOT a war criminal.

    ——Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapukses are PROVEN war criminals who should be sent to Hague AND put on electric chair because they colluded with Karuna, the greatest war criminal who killed thousands of innocent civilians and our police officials

    UK should go after Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapukse war criminals instead of going after a true war hero.

  • 8
    2

    Westminster Magistrate had done the right think to save the embarrassment of a serving officer being punished in UK and left to the Sri Lankan Sri Lankan government to deal with this idiotic officer for disgracing the uniform, his diplomatic post and Sri Lanka.Now the Sri Lankan government is on trial. He should be demoted or even sacked. In a lawless and uncivilized country like Sri Lanka my suggestion may come as a surprise and odd because our leaders visit criminals in prisons and even pardon them and they even share a bed with onetime terrorists, even give them diplomatic passports and treat them as VIPs. .

  • 5
    6

    Its a disgrace that the Brits allow politics to influence justice. They should take a page from Canada which asked its diplomat to step down as his statement interfered with the legal system.

    • 0
      0

      Burt Nothing to do with politics but common sense, justice with diplomacy. We had a worse situation decades ago a Burmese diplomat was asked to leave SL because he was suspected of killing a maid.

  • 11
    4

    If he is innocent and had not committed any offence why was Priyanka Fernando recalled from his posting in London? Why he did not face the charges in the courts? The Sinhalese racists are calling a coward a hero!

  • 0
    0

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  • 1
    1

    Next report on this can be under the headline “Her Majesty’s Magistrate and her TWO DIGITS” !

  • 4
    4

    The Magistrate’s Court has done the right thing. The silly warrant should not have been issued in the first place.

    • 3
      0

      What’s silly in the warrant?

      Should Sri Lanka ask USA to withdraw this case too?

      “Former ambassador to Washington Jaliya Wickramasuriya is likely to be brought before a judge this week making him the first Sri Lankan diplomat to be tried in the US for criminal activities while serving his country.”

  • 4
    4

    What does showing the middle finger means?
    Does it really mean that one is threatening to poke his middle finger up one’s ass?
    It is only a gesture and nothing more.
    Are those who are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill are so stupid not to know that?

    • 0
      0

      “What does showing the middle finger means?”

      Saying your number one using sign language.

  • 7
    4

    When Ahikuntikarars roam our villages cleaning drains & collecting garbage, we were told by our elders not to make any signs using our hands as it hurt Ahikuntikayars and they may go away without cleaning drains in front of our houses. Our grand- Mother leaves half a bottle of Arrak & some left-over sweets in front of our gates as a gift for them as they come for that job only once a year just after our new year celebration in order to collect some gifts. As small kids what we did was to emptied half of that bottle and filled it with our urins. Ahikuntikayars came and cleaned our drains in front of our houses & eagerly took that half bottle of arrak with sweet left at gates by our grand mothers without uttering any single word. That was the nature of Ahikuntikayars. Likewise our army officer could have left wiscky bottle filled with his urins when those jaffna tamils demonstrators came to our Embassy gate for protest demo. that is the nature of Ahikuntikayars. They brought here from Andra pradesh by Dutch for tobacco cultivation when they were ruling our maritime areas.

    • 5
      6

      Ranjith(SPRRW)
      Your comment is utterly disgusting and an insult to humankind.
      No human or animal in this world can decide their birthplace or race before they are born, and that applies to you and Ahiguntikayas both, equally.
      During their season, we have seen Ahiguntikayas in our village too, who are cobra and rilawa dancers and when we were small, it was normal for us to see them playing in our compound. When they do, the neighbours also come to see and Ahiguntikayas were always given food and paid handsomely.
      Being poor or belonging to a specific ethnic race is not a reason to insult, harass or downgrade people.
      Our ancestors were against South Indian invaders as they killed our Kings and destroyed our country. We are only against Tamil terrorists, racists and separatists, not all of Tamil descendants. Ahiguntikayas are innocent people.
      Arrack or no Arrack (until I left home, I have never seen Arrack, as nobody in my house consumed alcohol or no drunkard was allowed to enter the premises), Arrack or no Arrack, Ahiguntikayas or no Ahiguntikayas, you should not have spoilt anyone’s food, not even animals. We Buddhists, don’t even give animals spoilt food.

      • 1
        1

        Champa

        “Ranjith(SPRRW)
        Your comment is utterly disgusting and an insult to humankind.”
        -.
        Ranjith(SPRRW) a self confessed sorcerer has now joined your club.
        The sorcerer types:

        “Our grand- Mother leaves half a bottle of Arrak & some left-over sweets in front of our gates as a gift for them as they come for that job only once a year just after our new year celebration in order to collect some gifts. “

        Probably the grandmother was thanking her daughter’s father for the gift of her lifetime, given to her by him some 60 years ago.

        By the way this is nothing compared to what the retarded …. Shmeless Perera has been typing in this forum.

  • 5
    7

    Srupid Tamils, everytime lose their reputation, if any left, andbecomejust CLOWNs. It is just Global TAMILs and one with multiple Degrees. PAw da Tamils. Some one should give them a country.

    • 9
      4

      What about STUPID sinhalaya, that have all along been caught by BP Rajakashes for their politicial surivvial.
      :
      Rajapakshes would do nothing but will continue pocket filling tactics once the power is on their hand. That is common to everyone, so sinhalaya are (at least 40%) are fed up of balllige putha.Let tamils and other minoritieis fight for their rights. Why do we the sinhalaya cover Rajapakshe murderers any more ?

  • 2
    2

    where is cheers Cholan?

    • 3
      4

      Working late at corner shop.

      • 10
        2

        Taraki

        “Working late at corner shop.”

        He keeps the shop opened in case you need panadol or condom.

        • 2
          0

          Good old Native Tamils stick together. When all else fails there is always smut.

          • 1
            2

            Taraki

            Is can you wipe off the smug from your face as well as Priyankara’s a**e?

            • 1
              2

              Taraki

              Can you wipe off the smug from your face as well as Priyankara’s a**e?

          • 0
            0

            Veddah,

            ‘He keeps the shop opened in case you need panadol or condom.’

            You are right. The goods are out of date and over priced. Typical Tamil shopkeeper.

            • 1
              0

              Taraki

              Don’t the state Health & Safety officers visit the premises unannounced, to check the premises, products, ……….sample check on expiration dates?

              Note “Avoid using a condom after it has passed the expiration date because it will start to break down and become much less effective at preventing STDs and pregnancy.”

              Therefore don’t rely on Cholan, Mark, Obukku, Wang, …. Menike.

    • 10
      6

      I am here laughing reading comments.
      War Criminals have no place to hide.
      Diplomatic Immunity is not a lifetime guarantee to escape.
      Your Cardboard General Ambassador who was in Bresil also a diplomat why the hell he ran away in the midnight?
      Now the ball is in Modayas side.
      This neck cutting guy will never ever travel to Western countries.
      Modayas can laugh for a short while.
      The western legal system is not like your Mahavamsa legal procedures. be
      Khashoggi was murdered inside the Consulate and his body was cut into pieces then dissolve in the acid.
      Maybe the Consul General is back home and safe in Saudi Arabia ape but he can not escape UN declared it is going to investigate.

      The wheel of justice grind slowly but finally will crush.

      Bombing own citizens is a war crime …200,000 Tamils who surrendered to Sinhala cardboard army are missing .plus rapes.. all severe war crimes.

      The world saw what happened to Milosevic and his gangs and to Charles Taylor Ex-President of Liberia and Generals of Ruwanda at the ICC.

      This joker attache`s case is just a warning. At this hour he is safe in SL it seems.

      Even the Sinhala cardboard navy who try to kill Rajive Feroz Khan was pardoned in the cursed island.

      Cheers

  • 7
    9

    Breaking Silence: I break my silence for a worthy cause – To defend Priyanka. Having known him for a long time, I can vouch for the fact that he is a lovable guy, sloshing with Metta. In short, he is what P G Wodehouse would have called a Baa Lamb.
    .
    He would not even dream of hurting fly leave alone cutting the neck of a human being, even though the human being happened to be a terrorist of the worst kind. As I have suggested before, the meaning of the gesture is completely in line with Ahimsa. What he meant was that whatever you do, I shall follow the modus operandi first invented by Siri Sangabo, who as you all know, cut his own neck and donated it to his enemies who were after his head.
    .
    But now, I have a second explanation, which I happened to come across in the last weekend, when I went to see my girl friend. The conversation turned to birthday parties and I asked my GF what she wanted for her birthday. What she came out with was the exact same gesture that Priyanka is having so much trouble with. With his gesture so much in my mind, I asked my GF, “you mean you want me to cut your neck?. She said, “no stupid, I want a 22-carat gold chain”. On hearing that, I could have cut my own neck, for my stupidity, but I refrained.
    .
    I am sure Priyanka was telling the Tamil, terrorist—,(sorry, women in the crowd), I will give you gold chains if you would only go away!

    • 1
      1

      Breaking wind? More like it Master!

      • 0
        1

        Is that the only break you know?

  • 7
    5

    It is good that the British thieves and colonial blood suckers of poor people withdrew their kangaroo court order to arrest our war hero Brigadier Priyantha Fernando.

    He should come home immediately because we badly need heroes like him to protect our Buddhist statues from Wahabi attacks being managed by Bathurdeen.

    May the Triple Gem bless you Dear Brigadier Priyantha.

  • 7
    10

    International Centre for Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide

    Not quite international, more like a LTTE front
    http://icppg.org/our-team/

    • 7
      5

      sbarrkum,

      It is an absolute LTTE front. It was started by members of the TGTE which is a LTTE front also.

      Did you also notice that their 2 main legal eagles got their free education in Sri Lanka?

      • 1
        1

        Rajiv Tennekoon

        “Did you also notice that their 2 main legal eagles got their free education in Sri Lanka?”

        Would you like them to repay the cost education back to the Sri Lankan coffer?
        It would be good idea if you can enforce it right across the globe.

    • 0
      0

      What a pity Al Qiada, ISIS murders will be soon investigated by International bodies
      then thoppies will cry again.
      During the Iran-Iraq war (the fight between two bruders who read the same BUK) one million kids were used to dismantle the bombs and lost their life.
      Now Guardian of Isulam Saudi Barbarians are bombing daily on same Musulims of Yemen.
      Yesterday two bomb blasts in Jolo, Philipines by the BUK readers.
      Every Friday in Pakistan Bruders throw a bomb inside mosques and kill dozens.
      Musulims Palestinians and Kurds still fighting for their homelands.
      Palestinians girls and boys act as human bombs and kill innocent Israel people.
      Malay Muslim fanatic government banned Israeli swimmers for the PARALYMPIC competition.
      Alas, now the Olympic Committee canceled the event in Malaysia.
      We readers of the BUK the carbon copy of Jewish TORA will always remain in the 4th century but love to use equipment..devices..medicines.banks ..social medias all belong to Jews… no Haram.
      Cheers

  • 10
    4

    Please type the term “Brigadier Priyanka Fernando” in YouTube. You will find that all the Sri Lankan media, especially Sinhala language, is full of patriotic Sinhala Buddhist praise for the Brigadier. Nearly all the Sinhala public who are interviewed on camera, state that they defend him from any accusation or crime, because he is their war hero, who defended the Sinhala Buddhist land.

    War crimes committed by both the Sinhala military and LTTE have been documented by the UN and international Human Rights groups.

    Most Sinhalese in SL know that their war heros murdered and raped large numbers of civilians and bombed and shelled hospitals and civilians. In their state of denial, they suppress any thoughts and justify those war crimes.

    Most Sinhalese believe that because there are some Sinhala military personnel who did not rape, murder, bomb and shell Tamil civilians, the Tamils should focus only on that, and be overjoyed; and that the Tamils should not be unpatriotic to mention or remember war crimes and near genocide.

    Most Sinhalese also have the fantasy that the Tamil civilians in the Vanni were overjoyed and grateful, for being “rescued” by the Sinhala military. Most Sinhalese refuse to acknowledge the suffering of more than ten thousand Tamil families, over their family members who were murdered after surrendering to the SL military. And the land grab, Sinhala colonization and military occupation of private Tamil property, in order to impoverish the Tamils in their own land.

    All Sinhala political parties are vying with each other, to glorify this brigadier!

    Well, the major international powers, India and the SL state have completely failed to achieve reconciliation in Sri Lanka!

  • 9
    3

    Some of the war crimes and human rights violations committed by both the Sri Lanka military (and government) and the LTTE, can be found by Google searching for the following phrases:

    sri lanka war crimes UN report
    sri lanka war crimes Amnesty international
    sri lanka war crimes Human Rights Watch

    You can find so much more material written by international human rights activists, journalists, government officials and many others, who are neither Sinhalese nor Tamil. This material has more credibility than those authored by the Sinhalese side or the Tamil side. All this has become part of the written history of the island.

    A few paid agents of the Sri Lanka military writing comments under this article, will not change anything – which they are not capable of realizing.

    Some Tamil groups have documented only the war crimes committed by the Sinhalese military and not those by the LTTE.
    The Sinhalese military, government and some Sinhalese have documented only the war crimes committed by the LTTE and not those by the Sinhala Buddhist military.

    Isn’t the so called Sri Lanka military actually, a Sinhala Buddhist military? It is probably composed of about 99% Sinhalese
    and 98% Sinhala Buddhist.

    Many Tamils, such as my family, do not support the LTTE. Only the LTTE leaders, members and supporters are responsible for the LTTE’s war crimes in varying degrees.

  • 9
    2

    (1) Still Counting the Dead: Survivors of Sri Lanka’s Hidden War by Frances Harrison
    Biography
    Frances Harrison was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, as well as the School of Oriental & African Studies, and Imperial College in London. For many years she worked as a foreign correspondent for the BBC posted in South Asia, South East Asia and Iran. From 2000-4 she was the resident BBC Correspondent in Sri Lanka. She has worked at Amnesty International as Head of News and while writing this book was a visiting research fellow at Oxford University.

    (2) Sri Lanka’s Secrets: How the Rajapaksa Regime Gets Away With Murder (Investigating Power) by Trevor Grant (Author), Geoffrey Robertson (Foreword)
    Book review by former Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s Secrets, by Trevor Grant is chronicle of genocide

    (3) The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers Paperback – September 4, 2012 by Gordon Weiss
    Gordon Weiss was the UN’s spokesman in Sri Lanka during the final months of the civil war. Since leaving the UN Weiss has been a vocal critic of the conduct of both the Sri Lankan military and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[3][4] Weiss believes that war crimes were committed during the final stages of the civil war and has called for an international investigation.[According to Weiss up to 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final stages of the civil war.[8][9]

    (4) The Tamil Genocide by Sri Lanka: The Global Failure to Protect Tamil Rights Under International Law by Francis A. Boyle

    Much more items available on the internet about war crimes committed by both the Sri Lanka military and LTTE.

  • 0
    0

    The very purpose of making changes in Jan 2015 is to uphold the rule of law. The Vienna convention and others are part of the law that has to be observed by every state. Imagine that if the late Dr. Anton Balasingham as a UK citizen, attached to UK High Commission here makes some gesture resulting some private individuals filing action in our courts and should our courts issue summons, leave alone a warrant of arrest then in that event I am not the least surprised that those who lament about what happened now would vociferously claim the existence of the Vienna convention. At the expense of receiving so many thumbs down for this comment I should say that there cannot be double standards in these matters.

  • 0
    0

    Come on friends, it is not about this joker who gestured that he would cut the necks of the protesters while wearing some army uniform and allegedly occupying some kind of diplomatic position. Even Kohilawardena alias Karuna Amma went to the UK on a diplomatic passport. How about Gonawila Sunil, he too went on such kind of passport. So the issue is not about the London court or the protesters but about this clown to have behaved like that. Had he done that while lifting his sarama and standing on the road side then it is perfectly ok for Sri Lanka. Even appe Gnanasara Thero lifted his sivuru and exposed his genitals at a mosque and that too is ok because only he was exhibiting a cultural behaviour in ones own land. So gentlemen please think in that context and make your judgement accordingly. Also dont take these so-called diplomatic positions seriously as they are mostly given to suckers.

  • 0
    1

    My dear Lester how about the lives of Tamils you guys have taken since 1956 in the name of patriotism? have you forgotten 56, 58, 77 and 83 to name a few. This is why they supported the LTTE. When VP was running the country where were you guys, all in the bunker including the war heroes? He was ruthless alright but he did not see any other way to deal with the killers.

  • 0
    0

    Im thinking of withdrawing arrest warrent against british thrown for invading and steeling Sri Lanka many many moons before . No independent comment or true expression in the comment section from supporters from a both side.So I m leaving !

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