Former Minister Sarath Weerasekera said that former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay’s ongoing hunger strike is rooted in a firm policy stance, declaring that he refuses to disclose intelligence to “unwanted persons” even at the risk of death.

Weerasekera told reporters that Sallay’s position reflects patriotism, stressing that only those who truly love their nation will protect national security even if it costs them their lives.

He noted that Sallay’s wife and son had visited him and revealed he is in a deteriorating condition, unable to speak.

The former minister added that he himself had not visited Sallay, but urged the intelligence chief and his family to take food and safeguard his life.

“Only then can we take legal action against those working against Sallay,” he said. (Newswire)

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A recent report by the external mechanism established in Geneva to collect evidence against soldiers and political leaders accused of war crimes in Sri Lanka reveals there is a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security MP Sarath Weerasekera said. 

According to MP Sarath Weerasekera, an external mechanism was established in Geneva, Switzerland for the past 2 years according to resolution 46/1 to collect evidence related to war crimes against soldiers and political leaders who were accused of committing war crimes. 

He further stated that, in a report recently published by the said mechanism, it has been stated that they have a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country.

Stating that this external mechanism can describe the war in this country as a war against the Tamils ​​and not against the LTTE, MP Weerasekera emphasized that this activity is a threat to the self-esteem of the Sri Lankan war heroes as well as the national security.

He said therefore, the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security was of the view that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately take measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal. 

MP Weerasekera added that the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has further asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the strategies they have to reject the external mechanism brought by the Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their readiness to take action against them if they are prosecuted in the International Military Tribunal.

MP Weerasekera expressed these views when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security met in Parliament recently (June 05).

At the committee meeting, it was disclosed that several countries are currently working together to file cases in the relevant countries and international courts under the universal jurisdiction against the military leaders of Sri Lanka who have been found to have committed war crimes.

Although this external mechanism has been rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, they are continuously collecting evidence against the military leaders of Sri Lanka and the dangerous situation here is that the military officers of Sri Lanka can be arrested in any country of the world and prosecuted in the International Court of Justice. 

It was also informed that this external mechanism has the ability to describe the war in this country as a war against the Tamils ​​and not against the LTTE. It was emphasized that this activity is a threat to the self-esteem of the Sri Lankan war heroes as well as the national security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately take measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal. 

Here, the Committee asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the strategies they have to reject the external mechanism brought by the Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their readiness to take action against them if they are prosecuted in the International Military Tribunal.

Responding, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Ministry has taken steps to inform the countries that are acting impartially in this regard by expressing a strong protest against the reports of the Geneva Human Rights Commission.

Attorney at Law Darshana Weerasekera, who was called before the committee to express further comments in this regard, stated that Sri Lanka should have a strong domestic mechanism that can break the external mechanism with evidence. He also said that for this purpose, a strong local data file should be prepared by incorporating the facts of the LLRC report and the Paranagama report.

MP Sarath Weerasekera stated that the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation will further support the external forces that are against this country. (Newswire)

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The threat to the public by persons using the services of private security guards for their own protection was brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security.

According to a Parliament statement, this was discussed when the said committee met in Parliament last week (Nov 22) under the chairmanship of MP Sarath Weerasekera.

The members of the committee pointed out that the public is facing some oppressive situations due to some people who are escorted by private security guards. 

Senior Police officers who attended the meeting revealed that legally the Police cannot intervene in the personal security of a person. However, the committee pointed out that since the personnel of those private security services use weapons, certain regulation is necessary. The Committee decided to inform the Ministry of Defense to prepare criteria for regulating private security services.

A lengthy discussion was also held on the growth of underworld activities. It was also revealed that certain persons in the service of the armed forces show an increase in resorting to committing crimes. The Inspector General of Police pointed out that there is some weakness in the identification of criminals. The IGP further commented that if there are competent OICs to identify criminals in their areas, crimes can be prevented before they happen and therefore attention has been paid to identifying competent police OICs and sending them to the respective areas for service.

Drug control was also discussed at length, during which the police officials pointed out that the drug traffickers are working to make the school children addicted to drugs by giving them pills. They further suggested that the first thing that should be done in drug control is to prevent those drugs from entering the country. The committee also discussed the need for strict enforcement of laws such as the confiscation of property of drug traffickers.

Pointing out that the country loses a large number of lives due to road accidents, the committee chairman recalled that 29,000 war heroes died in the 30-year war in Sri Lanka, and 27,000 people died in road accidents in the last 10 years alone. Accordingly, the Chairman instructed to purchase the necessary equipment as soon as possible to identify the drivers, who drive under the influence of drugs and provide them to the police stations all over the island.

It was pointed out that there has been an increase in robberies and most of them are due to the carelessness of people. The police pointed out that it is very important for people to pay more attention to their houses, buildings and other properties.

Members of Parliament Rauf Hakeem, Chandima Weerakkodi, (Prof.) Channa Jayasumana, Charles Nirmalanathan, (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda, and (Major) Sudarshan Denipitiya as well as the officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and the Inspector General of Police were present. (NewsWire)

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The BAR Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has raised concerns over what it says is the growing trend of Parliamentarians exploiting their Parliamentary privileges for making statements in Parliament for matters which are sub judice. 

In a statement, the BASL highlighted that a statement made by MP Sarath Weerasekera in Parliament, on 07 July 2023 was an unfounded, brazen attack on the judiciary and the social fabric of the country.

Pointing out that the recent trend of pressure being exerted on the judiciary would potentially threaten and undermine these important principles, the BASL states it is of the view that the judiciary should be allowed to operate free from external pressure, threats or any interference for a vibrant democracy to exist.

Full statement: 

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