July 11, 2024 Justice For All is concerned by the latest instance of systemic bias…
President Rajapaksa meets with UN Secretary General Antony Guterres
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President Rajapaksa meets with UN Secretary General Antony Guterres
On September 20, President Gotabaya met with United Nations Secretary General Antony Guterres in New York City. The President spoke of Covid-19’s effect on Sri Lanka’s economy and education systems. He claimed that in 2009 under his brother Mahinda Rajipaksa’s presidency, that land transfers, victim compensation, and infrastructure had been carried out in the north and east. He said that his government would immediately begin working on the cases of missing persons. Sri Lanka has had an Office of Missing Persons since 2016.
President Rajapaksa claimed that many minors who were arrested for alleged links to terrorism were released when he became president, yet at least 1800 Muslims have been unlawfully detained since spring 2019. He also said that he would not hesitate to pardon, yet he has only pardoned 16 Tamils who were close to release and convicted murderer Duminda Silva.
The President said Sri Lanka’s internal problems should be handled internally. This is perhaps because there have been a number of recent Resolutions aimed at repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other human rights abuses. He did say that the UNHRC’s March Resolution was the creation of both foreign and local entities which were unable to see the progression that his government had made.