{"id":208428,"date":"2020-03-03T14:03:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T08:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=208428"},"modified":"2020-03-04T17:15:53","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T11:45:53","slug":"ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals-issues-decision-in-case-against-gotabaya-rajapaksa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals-issues-decision-in-case-against-gotabaya-rajapaksa\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Issues Decision In Case Against Gotabaya Rajapaksa\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Ahimsa Wickrematunge<\/span><\/a>\u2019s request to vacate the lower court\u2019s ruling that Gotabaya Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a> is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for acts committed while he was Secretary of Defense of Sri Lanka. Ahimsa\u2019s lawsuit, filed last April, sought to hold Rajapaksa \u2013 now the president of Sri Lanka \u2013 responsible for his alleged involvement in the assassination of her father, famed journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge<\/span><\/a>, and in the widespread and systematic targeting of journalists perceived to critical of the government. Ahimsa is represented by the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ahimsa<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals also granted Ahimsa\u2019s request to dismiss her case without prejudice, as Rajapaksa\u2019s accession to the presidency of Sri Lanka last November gave him immunity from suits in US courts for so long as he remains president. The Ninth Circuit\u2019s decision clears the way for future litigation against Rajapaksa once he no longer enjoys immunity as a head of state.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ruling is a victory, and a message to Gotabaya Rajapaksa: His maneuvers to escape justice\u00a0 for his role in my father\u2019s assassination continue to fail. He will not enjoy immunity forever, and his presidency can only delay, not prevent, accountability. Those of us who lost everything to his barbarism and bloodshed will never give up our fight for justice,\u201d says Ahimsa Wickrematunge.<\/p>\n

\u201cLasantha\u2019s killing was neither authorized nor ratified by the Sri Lankan government, and the violent targeting of journalists should never be considered legitimate acts of state,\u201d said CJA Legal Director Carmen Cheung. \u201cWe are pleased that Ahimsa will have the opportunity to bring her case again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ninth Circuit correctly vacated the lower court\u2019s decision when Ahimsa\u2019s appeal could no longer be heard, because of Rajapaksa\u2019s newly acquired immunity. We are pleased that this decision gives Ahimsa another chance at justice for her father,\u201d says Natalie Reid of Debevoise & Plimpton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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