By Jehan Perera –
Jehan Perera
The role of the international community in Sri Lanka’s affairs has once again taken the centre stage due to the ongoing investigation into a Swiss embassy local staff member’s complaint that she was abducted and subjected to interrogation. The arrest of this complainant on the grounds that she gave false evidence and caused disaffection towards the government is an unfortunate escalation. The government has stated that the account of her abduction does not tally with the facts of the investigation. But whether she was interrogated and harassed during this abduction episode, which is the main issue in her complaint, still remains nebulous. This incident followed soon after information emerged about asylum being granted in Switzerland to a top police investigator into criminal cases involving government members. Relations with Switzerland, an influential Western country, have become a matter of controversy not even a month into the election of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and formation of a new government.
By way of contrast, the past five years saw the former government headed by former President Maithripala Sirisena make strenuous efforts to reach an accommodation with the international community on matters that had previously been contentious. But this was politically costly to that government, which was manifest at the presidential elections. These matters revolved around the three decade long war and its aftermath. On the one hand, military personnel and strategic analysts from the international community came to Sri Lanka to learn about the Sri Lankan model of defeating terrorism. On the other hand, there was a concerted campaign by international human rights organisations, the Tamil Diaspora and also foreign governments to demand an accounting for past human rights violations and war crimes that they alleged had taken place in the course of the Sri Lankan war.
During the past five years of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government it was the latter perspective that had the upper hand. At a graduation ceremony for military personnel recently, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stated in a graphic manner that “The change of government of January 2015 was almost as if a hostile foreign force had invaded and taken over Sri Lanka.” In his speech he pointed out that this had two major consequences. The first was that the intelligence services were rendered completely inoperative, which finally led to the former government’s inability to prevent the disastrous Easter Sunday bombings. “Members of the intelligence services were persecuted, harassed and jailed by the previous government on false charges. It was not just the intelligence services that had to face this situation. The entire high command of the armed forces during the war against the LTTE was brought before the police with a great deal of media publicity to answer all kinds of allegations,” he said.
Election Promise
One of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pledges in his election campaign was to withdraw from the previous government’s co-sponsorship of the controversial UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 of October 2015 titled “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”. He said “We will always work with the United Nations, but I can’t recognize what they have signed.” He further said, “We have already rejected that, as a party we have rejected that agreement and in public we have rejected that.” According to the UNHRC resolution, the previous government had promised to fulfil over thirty commitments which included establishing a judicial mechanism comprising international judges, prosecutors and investigators to ensure accountability for serious human rights violations and war crimes.
Many who supported the UNHRC resolution from the perspective of human rights defenders described the proposed judicial mechanism as a “hybrid court” which became a lightning rod for those who opposed it. Due to the highlighting of the “hybrid court” the entire UNHRC resolution became, and remains, synonymous in the public mind with seeking punishment for the victors in the war. In his recent speech to the graduating military personnel of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sought to assuage these concerns. He said that the government would “rectify the injustices of the past five years” and that “initiatives will be taken at the international level to restore to our armed forces the respect and dignity they deserve.”
It is worth noting in this context that both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose government co-sponsored the UNHRC resolution, backed down from the position that there would be international judges sitting in judgment over Sri Lankan military personnel and defence authorities in deference to the strong popular opposition to it. The depiction of the UNHRC resolution as being primarily about prosecution of the soldiers is unfortunate as most of the resolution is about the return of land, restoration of normalcy and includes truth seeking, reparations and institutional reform which could obtain the support of the general population. But this larger message was neglected by the former government, which did not champion what it has signed.
Strengthen Case
Speaking after formally assuming duties, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena indicated the government’s foreign policy priorities when he said that they were focused on “revisiting” agreements signed under the previous Government. The Minister said that the President’s election manifesto made it clear that any foreign agreements that had a negative impact on Sri Lanka’s national security, sovereignty and integrity would be reviewed. He said that many controversial foreign agreements would also be reviewed, including the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 30/1, promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, which was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka.
Accountability and the punishment of those who have committed grave violations of human rights are an integral part of the UN mandated system of transitional justice. This is also the position of human rights organisations. The question is how best this can be obtained. Where countries have judicial systems that have not completely collapsed, there is strong resistance to bringing in foreign judges to be in decisionmaking positions. Colombia, which is the most recent success story in transitional justice, has chosen the path of having national judges only with foreign expertise in an advisory role. Hybrid courts are not necessarily the answer. The hybrid court system established in Cambodia in 2003 has delivered only three convictions after 14 years of effort and the cost has exceeded USD 200 million.
If Sri Lanka is to strengthen its case for renegotiating the UNHRC resolution and changing the provision that calls for international judges, prosecutors and investigators in a hybrid mechanism, it is important that the government should be able to show that the Sri Lankan legal system is independent of political interference. The 19th Amendment to the constitution, which the government seems to want to get rid of, could be its source of strength. This law was intended to strengthen the independence of key state institutions such as the judiciary, police, public service, human rights commission and elections commission. As the Swiss embassy case has attracted a great deal of international attention, it is going to be a litmus test of how the world sees the independence of the Sri Lankan legal system. This will include the way in which the police investigates with or without bias and the way in which the Attorney General’s Department presents their case to the judiciary who will be the ultimate decision makers about the truth of the matter.
attanayake A / December 17, 2019
Sadly, what you have said regarding the TOPIC..? Nothing..!
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Simon De Silva / December 17, 2019
Rajpakashes have proved once, that they are beyond those KHASHOGI killers in Saudi Embassay in Turkey.
So the kind of abduction reported with local employee of Swiss embassy colombo are just easy issues for them. They are blant mlechcha people incl. that Kamal Agunaratne being so called defence secretary in today mlechcha govt.
We were given chances, but our guys played gentleman politics, thinking lankens should be treated the way the English being treated in United Kingdom. But their voter outcome proved, that majority of lankens are taken as human shields to the very same manner then norther KILLER Prabakaran did it for his sake. All in all, this nation would never have the chance to see it, so long MAHINDA JARAPAKSHE squads are in this country. My wish them to be destroyed by a natural cause. Be through any kind of health hazaards or the like…. Karmaya should work on them and their families, leaving us the over 60 lacks of people, stood against them, in PEACE.
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The election results – 5% out of nothern and eastern to go for today barabarians, showed well their antipathy and dislike well. This means over 95% in those areas would not support Rajapaksehs. They see rajapakshes as killers of the highgrade. So do we.. think… going by his previous term 2010 to 2015.
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Laxmi / December 18, 2019
Dr. JP Lets start with the case of the ICJ ruling and the Human Rights of the Chagos Islands peoples- a neighboring country.
The Chagossian peoples were brutally evicted from their Indian Ocean island home not far from Sri Lanka and their pet dogs gassed by the US and UK military forces who set up a massive CIA black site military base there. The US was all ready with its puppet bondscam Ranil to set up its lily pad bases in the Islamic Caliphate of Sri Lanka after staging the Easter Carnage with Hollywood style shock and awe special effects to numb Sri Lankans into accepting SOFA, ACSA and MCC
The Chagos Islands case is the prism though which the people of Sri Lanka see the role of the self-appointed International Community (IC) – particularly the p3 – Us, UK, France and allies and their FAKE HUMAN RIGHTS narratives and Fake Reconciliation Xperts!
IC and US funding for all projects to the Justice sector and for fake democracy which spread corruption should be reviewed and topped immediately. USAID advisors have helped turn the Parliament into a cesspit of corruption.
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Raritythoughts / December 18, 2019
They the human rights protecting bodies criticise CHINA and other countries but now SRILANKENS have achieved the level on the top of the human right violators. No matter anyone would stand against them, but they continue persecution and abductions to the very same manner they had then been used to. Today, we got to know that the family memebers of a driver, who had then served to former minister CHampika Ranawaka, were abducted in the midnight, not even caring a small infant of the family. However, all became clear and they had to release them on the way, was what I read. However, the way they move forward is beyong all ethics and morals.
It is right that SWISS embassy to have issued a statement that lanken law seems to be not holding impartial investigations under the newly eelcted govt. They can hide anything under the carpert to the very same manner, they did it former national ruggerite, a young boy of mid 20 ties, the way he and some other journalists were dismemembered as revenge. The blatant Rajaakhes and their kith and kin are proved to be even more cruel than the Khashogi killers as many see it today. Rajaakshes for some reasons, have been keeping the press under their control, in order to send the message across the nation, ONLY infavour of them. Even if blatant lies manipulate the average mind set, nothing seem to work in the line of feeding the people with TRUTHS. Who have they been hoodwinking this much ? and can this nature be lasted forever ? Why lanken people are even far stupdier than THE JARAWA tribe in India. Or some primitive afro tribes in africa ?
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Kamal Agunaratna / December 18, 2019
In developing countries. the majority of people stay in poor. But for some own reasons, ours have been made overestimated for the political will under previous brutal regime of Rajapakshe. Now they boast of having earned the status, but those foreign investors before deciding to lanka, they go through all the levels of other like minded nations, in the region and globe, … that is why they always end up deciding to Bangaladesh or other poor countries with affordable labour offer.
So who should be made responsible for the mess – if not Rajaakshes themselves. Like some colombo people feel them to be part of England, but that is not the reality, though an illusion for their day today living, Rajaapakshe may have thought, that would be the only way to be in power. Power gain tactics in that group is beyond all ethics and morals. Through Prof. title holders, they mislead the very same nation to the very manner, ” you would cut the pork keeping on a living swine”, urage mas urage kaye thiyagena kapanawa waage… how brutal these men, though born to so called buddhist families have been.
The banner Buddhist- or sinhala buddhist are just ” flowers” to decorate the hoodwinking machinery. Those who just look at feel, my gosh, how religious they have been, but not even 5 precepts are being safeguarded many of the parade running front monks… they just live up their propensities, being wrapped up in a SIRUVURA, which is being kept above in buddhist tradition, lively practised in SRILANKA. Buddhists , that practise real buddhism are scattered in developed world, They focuse themselves on the cream of what lord buddha explained in his teachings. I decideced myself not to kneel down before a LANKEN monk, again, better to do so, before a galgediya (stone wrapped up by a SIVURA) if we have to respect and worship.
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Adrian / December 17, 2019
This lady will just join the list of political prisoners and be forgotten. Ranil and Yahapalana did nothing for them, some held for thirteen years without trial. Shame, honor, fairness….some of the qualities totally absent in our politicians.
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Leelagemalli / December 17, 2019
They did , but to his style. he thought he should NOT be that hard to his opponents. But today, these guys the way, they move forward is barbaric. Once barabarians, would never change their style, keeping that Kamal Darunurathnaa as the defence secretary.
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As if this country belongs ot them only. Ballige puthas should be destroyed by a natural catastrophe is my only wish. I hate Rajaakshes and their men forever for all what they have made to their country men.
Alone today they have been hunting former ministers to the manner, they think is right. But world is considering it as SRILANKEN way…. pitty us are being covered by these thugs.
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Sandy / December 17, 2019
‘ Keep yourself far from a false matter…’ (Holy Bible).
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Mallaiyuran / December 17, 2019
Did you go near Holy Bible by any chance ?
How did you get this?
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Sandy / December 18, 2019
Exodus.ch.23.’ Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous.
For I will not justify the wicked.
You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice’.
You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.’
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Good Sense / December 17, 2019
The heading of the article is not amply elaborated in the body of the same. There is a reference to hybrid court. Does the author imply that a Swiss judge too should have sat along with our local magistrate in the courts? The term Swiss embassy employee is can mislead one to believe that the employee concerned is a Swiss national. It is cheaper for foreign embassies to hire local staff who have sworn loyalty to them to do their consular and other work. The real question then is to whom must the employee be loyal to in the event of a conflict of interest? This is a case in point for one to ponder whether it is principally correct for a foreign mission to hire local staff. Now supposing under questioning a suspected local embassy worker reveals matters which must be kept confidential in order to wriggle out of a mess then obviously the foreign government is going to complain that their information was extracted out of duress. The real drama could have been had Garnier Banister Francis (GBF), formerly known as Sriyalatha Perera, told the Police that the entire story was concocted by the Swiss Ambassador and she carried out the bosses instructions. Of course I cannot expect Gotabhaya Rapajakse to be another Ranasinghe Premadasa to chase the Ambassador out of the country. Judging from the reaction of the Swiss authorities in Berne it confirms my suspicions that the lady with so many faces would ultimately be granted refuge in Switzerland. To sum it all in reality there is no different way to handle this issue that would have made the Swiss authorities satisfied that the process in Sri Lanka is fair and their employee is utterly wrong.
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Native Sudda / December 18, 2019
@ Good Sense
Your comments and conclusion are more to the point than what this article is trying so hard to elaborate. Well done.
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chiv / December 17, 2019
Today, ex Pak President and a military dictator Pervez Musharraf was found guilty and sentenced to death for a crime committed during his peak as president , trying illegally to amend constitution and extend his period of rule. This guy during his rule with Army support was at the top of the world challenging anyone and everyone including The west especially the US and his political rivals at home. He was throwing opposition leaders in prison as he wished and had full immunity . He sure would have not expected this fate. A lesson to learn, for Lankan politicians.
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Jayt / December 21, 2019
All Tamil tigers and their supporters love that.
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Dilshan / December 17, 2019
Is there an alternate way for war criminals
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Raj-UK / December 17, 2019
Jehan
The Swiss Embassy Case Could Have Been Handled Differently. Agreed but you have failed to elaborate. Therefore, I will pen my 2 cents worth.
OK, so this lady made a false statement (to the Police?) that she was abducted & questioned at length by known persons about Visa applications or whatever information she was privy to. In my opinion, the police can charge her for wasting police time by making a false claim. In the absence of directly accusing the Govt., isn’t it the public & the media who came to the conclusion that her actions ’caused disaffection towards the government’, which, I was not aware until now, was a criminal act? (I thought it was a crime only in totalitarian regimes) On the other hand, if she complained to her employer, the Swiss Embassy, & it was they who complained to the Police, the Embassy, on the strength of the Police investigation, can terminate her services or take appropriate punitive action if they so wish for misleading them & causing embarrassment at diplomatic level.
So isn’t it all a storm in a tea cup that incarcerated a woman unnecessarily & harshly for a relatively harmless, perhaps a figment of her imagination, that blew out of proportion into a diplomatic incident? Is this justice in a country where the head of state & high ranking officers of the security forces were accused by an international court for human rights abuses & war crimes but none of them had the guts to face the accusers & clear their names? Maybe the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka will soon come to be known internationally (if not already) as the Banana Republic Of Sri Lanka.
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Native Sudda / December 18, 2019
@ Raj-UK
You said “So isn’t it all a storm in a tea cup that incarcerated a woman unnecessarily & harshly for a relatively harmless, perhaps a figment of her imagination, that blew out of proportion into a diplomatic incident?”
So you, perhaps innocently, naively or otherwise, believe that this is the act of a harmless woman with no ulterior motives and/or without a third party involvement. Well I can condone with you to a point, as those living in Sri Lanka have access to the latest information on this high profile case, and are much more aware of the situation.
The point that none other than the Attorney General has adjudicated that the suspect should be arrested and remanded, citing relevant sections of “Sri Lankan”(and not SWISS) laws is a clear indication of the gravity of the situation. It remains to be seen if it is it pure coincidence that this incident came out soon after the Presidential election.Or are there some unscrupulous characters lurking behind the scene? Let us wait and see without jumping into all kinds of conclusions.
Whatever is said and done, it appears that the Swill Embassy has been taken for a ride; as a diplomatic mission of a highly reputed and well regarded country,they should not have taken her word as gospel truth but done some basis inquiries at least before jumping the gun. But it is too late now; the horse has bolted and what could have been handled and resolved as a ‘simple case'( as one of the previous Government’s Minister recently said in a criminal hit-and-run case where he was involved) has now become an ‘International Incident’ of some sort with both parties not willing to pull back.
Unfortunately, this incident has become the front-page news for nearly two weeks in a country which has a plethora of much more important and critical matters to focus its energies and pay attention to.
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English Learner / December 17, 2019
what is the difference between abduction and kidnap? is this incident a kidnap or abduction?
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babalawathie mudunkotuwa / December 17, 2019
Kidnapping is just one another part of Rajaakshe crimes. ‘
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Abduction is their daily routine. Just imagine, former Driver s family ones of CR, a former minister are now being abducted to show their hapan kam…
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And low level journos stay mum not having reported anything yet.
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Derana TV men would live up on the tons of excreta of Rajaakpakshe, since they are made totally servivle for their creation by Rajaapkshe black money.
Just imagine, how GOTABAYA to have that much funds to hold that big campaign? if people and states funds were not robbed out by them during his brother s tenure ?
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ajith / December 17, 2019
I do not understand how many CID, How many Judiciary, How many Police service, How many military and how many Constitution in Srilanka. Every time a new government comes to power the CID is changes, military changes, rules changes, laws changes, judiciary changes. Yesterdays criminals become todays heroes, yesterdays judiciary become a different judiciary decision. Which one is correct? Which one is wrong? Who decides the outcome? Is it Judiciary or Is it Politicians?
As far as the case regarding Swiss employees accusation of alleged or true abduction and threatening who is right and who is wrong? Was the investigation done properly? Was the investigation concluded? Was that lady charged in the Courts? What was the judiciary decision? How can our president, prime minister, foreign minister make conclusions in a case where there is no court decision? Is it right to make statements when the investigation is ongoing? The fact is Judiciary have to follow the order of the President, otherwise what will happen to judge?
Jegan is right. The way our politicians involved in the investigation proves undoubtedly that our judiciary is always biased or influenced by President or Prime Minister.
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S. Gamage / December 17, 2019
Idiotic Ariyasinghe shouldn’t have challenged Swiss Embassy. He played the street thug role to impress the public. His job as External Affairs secretary is not to challenge foreign envoys by playing police roll mentioning CCTV footage etc. That is CID job. He should have been able to down play the situation, not to aggravate. As a public official he should have given the right advice to his minister without playing a politician role. He is the main culprit for making the country’s and President’s image totally tarnished internationally. He is like the king’s monkey with a sward.
A good diplomat is a person who can tell someone to go to hell in such a tactful way that one actually look forward to the trip. What this man did was invited Switzerland to the boxing ring. We have to show our civility (even many don’t have) in international arena, that is the job of the External Affairs ministry, not to do the Police work or military work.
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Champa / December 17, 2019
S. Gamage
Oh please don’t try to put the blame on the Secretary/External Affairs.
All good diplomats are subjected to political victimization if they speak up. They are only expected to follow the instructions coming from the top. Sri Lankan Presidents and Prime Ministers have a habit of not listening to officials. They think they are the law.
What are you saying? “President’s image is totally tarnished internationally.” Didn’t you see the media briefing of the President which has nothing to do with Ravinatha??
Ravinatha was asked to convey a message to the Swiss Ambassador in the presence of the Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne. Why do you blame Ravinatha when it is obvious that it is the Defence Secretary and the President who run the show???
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S. Gamage / December 18, 2019
Champa it is on Colombo Page “Legal action could be taken against local Swiss Embassy employee – Foreign Secretary” And on another web site it says “Sri Lanka’s foreign secretary threatens Swiss Embassy employee with legal action”. My point is, it is not on his job description to say any of those comments. Investigations should be done by police and CID, and the legal system should decide the rest. Who is he to decide and make any of these comments? My comment has nothing to do with any politics. Politicians listening to the public officials is a different matter, still the officials should give the right advice. They should not take justice system into their hands and make comments to get cheap popularity, or to make their political bosses happy.
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S. Gamage / December 18, 2019
Champa, if you check a few daily papers and a few websites during that time you will see the way Ariyasinghe behaved. I am not partial to anyone or any political party. Kamal G. doing it as Secretary Defence is understandable, it is his area of work. What right the Secretary FA has to talk about abduction, CCTV camera footage, the punishment, threaten etc. Maybe still he cannot get over the News reader mentality, want to be a nosey parker and put his paws in every situation. To my mind the way he acted was extremely unprofessional.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 17, 2019
Ariyasinghe is part of the stupid Ananda College gang (Gota, Susil Premajayanth, Kamal gunaratne, Shavendra Silva etc) which is taking the country for a ride. Unfortunately an idiotic Royalist Dinesh Gunawardena is with them. During the last government people complained of Royal College gang taking the country down, but now it is worse.
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Simon De Silva / December 18, 2019
Depending on how many times a man lick the ass and genitals of Mahinda Rajapakshe, being a toilet paper for the moment, plays a significant role in getting appointed as any kind of officer under their rule. This was the case with Weerathunga who was the presidential secretary in the high days of ballige putha ruined this nation. Weerathunga got convicted but for some tactics being played on pulligona SIRISENA, he got free, even if former IGP and defence secretary are kept in jail telling something else yet today. But that man, who was the master mind having buried the Kashogi style brutal murder of Thadjudeen, is free though after year or more jail sessions. I think rajapakshes tob e beheaded in a parade, if at all this nation to be flourished with peace and harmony. Seriving justice will become a dream under them in the days to come. Wall arts and other tactics are being played to overshadow the situation before the world. Swiss drama is not a fabricated story, but it was made as fabricated for their surivival. Truths will have to surface next days, entire world is watching at them. Not a single state in EUROPE has yet invited, barbaric Gota as state visit yet. I will join them and we will report all the bits more clearly in COMING geneva sessions. I think it is high time the nation be punished to have elected the barbarians being fallen in their tricks.
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gamini / December 19, 2019
S. Gamage,
You are right. This Ravinath Ariyasinghe was a Bum Sucker under Old Premadasa as a News Caster. He climbed as an International Journalist thanks to Corrupt Politicians because Ariyasinghe was willing to wash the dirty linen of Corrupt Politicians. He has amply displayed his level of intelligence and Diplomacy in this instance, trying to challenge the Swiss Ambassador. This will not come to light, but try to find out what the CID Police had done with the CCTV Cameras in the neighbourhood where the abduction had occurred under the pretext of viewing for evidence, may have even deleted, even without the knowledge of the Householders as they had not viewed their Camera footage. This is a good warning to all owners of CCTV Cameras, not to allow any footage to be viewed by anyone, even by the Police, unless presented to Court through Lawyers.
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Ranjith Gunawaradana / December 17, 2019
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / December 17, 2019
Garnier Francis needs to be thrown into jail if found guilty. There should be no mercy for bringing disrepute to the country.
Visa officers do not have diplomatic immunity. Even if they did, it should not matter given the heinous nature of the crime.
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Simon De Silva / December 17, 2019
Dear Asylum seeker, so called self proclaimed war veteran or the cook for army men or an used condom of them@
If Garnier Francie to be thrown into jail, ballige putha mahinda rajaakshe should have been dismemebered to the very same manner that JK was fated in the Saudi Embassy in Turkey a year ago.
Incumbent President should long have been hung by his balls for all the high crimes he and his thugs have committed during his brother s term. ‘
Why on earth we the folks just because of undeducated masses let to be subjugated, we too being represented by the rascals.
‘This is the where democractically held elections go totally wrong.
The day, Rajapakshes be let go out of lanken soils the day we start the real peace and harmony in this country. Media mafia men should be hung by their balls to have manipulated the stupid masses.
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Ranjan / December 19, 2019
Hello. You and I are living & able to write this way because of actions taken to eradicate the LTTE fellows. All these are cover ups for the disgrace they got after the defeat of the so called BOYS, freedom fighters.
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K.Anaga / December 18, 2019
Investigation is by the government and we have heard only their story. Will they allow Garnier Francis to be interviewed over the TV to ascertain the facts and figures? It is suspected, there is more to it than what we hear.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / December 18, 2019
Suspects of crime do not get the chance to broadcast their stories over TV channels. If you have a brain use it before you start typing.
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Tamil from the north / December 18, 2019
Retarded Shemale bugger, only failures in schools joined the military.
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Adrian / December 19, 2019
Foolish Tamil from the North, by your definition Maj General Anton Muttukumaru OBE was a failure too.
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Jayasuriya / December 20, 2019
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K.Anaga / December 18, 2019
They don’t have to broadcast their stories. They have to be interviewed to ascertain the facts. Invariably the police tell their own story even before going to courts and prejudice the public. Hence it may be prudent for the police to keep their mouth shut until it is ‘Broadcast’ in the Courts. This is not a mere crime of the usual type like robbing or assault. It is an assault on two countries Swiss and Srilanka and in between a SriLankan lady employed by Swiss. How much of crime amplified by the police, faile to see the light of the day in the courts? So much have been spoken of the murder of Sunday leader editor, rugger player, and Ehenliyagoda but where is the result?.
This situation is similar to the encounter murder of four men arrested on suspicion of rape and murder of a girl in Bangalore.
JUDGE, JURY, DEFENCE AND THE PROSECUTION should not be the same person.
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Jay Chambers / December 17, 2019
As a deterrent the harshest available punishment should be meted out to this person. She participated in an effort to tarnish a country and its new leadership and when these things happen it can impact the amount of aid and support a country like Lanka gets from the wide world of donors, investors and governments. That is the serious crime here and hopefully the Lankan penal code has necessary articles to make the punishment a strong one.
However, any attempt to harm this woman or her family by zealots should be absolutely avoided. That is exactly what the forces behind these dramas are waiting for and that is exactly what should be avoided.
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Leelagemalli / December 17, 2019
Jay chambers – why is that ? Nothing is revealed yet clearly. The Swiss would not mix it up having had a greater credibility to them as a powerful NATION.
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Besides, not even HITLER led groups could teach the SWISS a lession, how a poor hungry nation of our nature would ever teach them a lession ? Instead, you goo eaters of Rajaakshes would have to face TRADE embargo, going by not being able to maintain the least HUMAN rights of the people. Good luck with thanakola eaters of my good old mother land.
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Chris Peries / December 17, 2019
Jehan Perera[edited out] His point of view is hypocritical as his musings are in clear contempt of the laws of this land. In the case of the false complaint made by the local lady, she has been arrested & produced in Court in line with the charge of fabricating a complaint & bringing the coutry & its government to disrepute, Internationally. This is high treason. Let the law take its course Jehan, we Sri Lankans dont need your egoistic ethical pep-talk.
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Abhaya Premawardena / December 17, 2019
its being handled just fine.
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NAK / December 18, 2019
Peace ‘kaakaas’ only wants things to be handled in the way they can see some dollars.
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Walter Simson / December 18, 2019
Swiss Embassy is that an interfere of internal affairs of Sri Lankan sovereignty by White Van political of an engaging involved of that of UNP support.?
We are a sovereignty nation .We do not wanted Swiss Embassy to undermined international accepted protocol by White VAN human Rights accord ! by $$$$$.
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carlos / December 18, 2019
[edited out]
1. can one obtain asylum to Switzerland while in Sri Lanka,
2.Did the Policeman in question get a visitors visa, if yes who sponsored him and gave the usual 20,000 CHF bank gaurantee.
3.Where is he staying now in Switzerland, in an Asylum home till his documents are processed
which can take years sometimes.
4. Was the Swiss taxpayer paying for the ambulance to carry Sriyalatha back.
etc, etc
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Mallaiyuran / December 18, 2019
” 4. Was the Swiss taxpayer paying for the ambulance to carry Sriyalatha back. “
Carli, if the poor Swiss Tax payers cannot pay, why can’t our Sri Lankan Airline goes there to pick up the pet dog, droff this woman and bring back the poodle? What is the biggie in that? (If you have just woke up in lankawe, just drink a cup of tea or coffee; we talk later-bye)
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 19, 2019
1. In 1989 Prince Gunasekera was given asylum to UK while in Sri Lanka and was escorted to the airport by US ambassador and safely put in the plane to UK.
2. Type of visa to be given to any individual and personal sponsorship or monetary security that he needs to show, entirely depends on the nation issuing the visa.
3. There is no law for a nation to disclose where they have placed an asylum seeker, especially when they feel that he is at risk of harm by Sri Lanka hit squads.
4. When a state does something, the expenses are borne by the tax payer, which Swiss citizens will not object for a humanitarian cause like that. However wealthy Tamils in Switzerland whose GDP is higher than Sri Lanka, are prepared to pay for this.
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shankar / December 18, 2019
i agree that this could have been handled differently.They could have sent a grease yakka to touch madam bannister when she is in the toilet.she would have screamed and run to the police.
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chiv / December 18, 2019
People living outside of our “shit hole dosent even know we exist, and people here think , we have some sort of reputation, which Swiss is trying to tarnish. Guys, they have much better things to do. Last year in google search,Maximun people were looking for “where the hell “Sorry Lanka” is located in the world map”. (Probably after Easter Carnage). Bottom line, the world is aware of our existence only when there is disaster or man made calamity. I guess our Cricket team and tourism does not get enough attention any more, anyway they only have limited reach. Our retards have already turned us into a joke and we sure do not need any help from outsiders. Art of turning an internal issue into an international diplomatic crisis, it self makes us look fools.
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Mallaiyuran / December 18, 2019
There is a news that there are many Swiss embassy Kottiyas employees are involved in this massive plot. So Appe Aanduwa may try to clean up the embassy. This Dengue might have spread to many other Colombo embassies too. That might be a call to clean the entire city Colombo or even the whole Lanakwe. Mosquitos have to be stopped by Rapist Army establishing checkpoints from Vavuniya to KKS. That is the better way to handle the Dengue.
Rajitha very terribly sick. He has to get treatment in Singapore. Certainly it could be related to Dengue. Sampanthat do not have health and money to fly too far long to West. He wants to take treatment somewhere close by like India.
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N.Perera / December 18, 2019
The whole issue here is the Police officer being given asylam. Who wants to know details of this other than the Government .Why will the Swiss Em . or a member of their staff unnecessarily raise this issue
which will be to their disadvantage.So it is very apparent that there has been an abduction and interogation.
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Ayathuray Rajasingam / December 19, 2019
N.Perera,
You have come to the point. The abduction of the Swiss Embassy is true. The abductors wanted to get all information from the Embassy. Moreover, when the sitting commences gain in Geneva, they are deviating with this type of incidents. They should realize that ‘One can hurt us with the truth, but never comfort us with a lie’.
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Ruwan / December 19, 2019
Your conclusions are based on assumptions! Who knows if she wanted to go to Switzerland the fastest way possible by a special plane? Again an assumption? There is much more to this than what have been revealed as both her stories are not true as the CCTV Cameras indicate that nothing took place during the time she was supposed to have been abducted! Appreciate if someone can substantiate her story with proof please!
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Piyadasa Yalagala / December 20, 2019
Now Sri Lankn nation rule by Swiss Law . All beside that Sri Lankan citizens has to surrender that their national sovereignty to Swiss authorizes persons in Embassy in Colombo .
We as nation has lost again that Rights to exercise of Democracy and ours Independence to foreign countries rule by Western civilization of origin that nexus Swiss regime.
Well, people of Sri Lankan that Democratic triumphs of 2019 November 16th mandate , relatively impotent by local politics ….origin of that UNP version of “White Van scenario” ……
A revival of theological thought of Swiss were to be discredited and collapse. Meanwhile which that have left us ,it has been bully by Embassies of Western countries,which is that including Swiss.
What I have to say on going issues between Swiss regime and Sri lanka of that
so-called “white van kidnapped is ” flash tales are, first of all, tales,and tales ,like myths, are always needed to be persuasive..
We are the citizens of Island must be able to an identified between truth of facts and erroneous diplomatic doctrines ignorance is in the middle.
We are looking forward could that end the political vandalism an identity someday by topple the policies UNP government. It is Hardly like.
It could be which it reverse to the norms of Democrat fortunes and start growing again since 2019 November 17th. by popular appeal. Needless to say that facts of truth still vague ,but very threat comes to Democratic Governance from several mode of Terrorism?
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