The United States of America Imposes Sanctions on Two Sri Lankan Military Officers

16-12-2021

Sarah Thanawala

Sri Lanka and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defense.

Two senior military officials namely Chandana Hettiarachchi and Sunil Ratnayake, along with their immediate family members are sanctioned and banned from entering the United States of America (U.S.) (Tamil Guardian, 2021a). The travel ban by the U.S. aims to encourage “the sanctioning of further high ranking officials” accused of human rights violations like war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide (Tamil Guardian, 2021b). Hettiarachchi, a Sri Lankan naval intelligence officer, was arrested in the year 2018 on account of his involvement in the forced disappearance, abduction and the alleged killings of 11 Tamil youth during the years 2008 and 2009 (Tamil Guardian, 2019). Whereas, Ratnayake, a former Staff Sergeant in the Sri Lankan Army, was found guilty and sentenced to death in the year 2015 for the Mirusuvil massacre, wherein 8 Tamils (including 3 children) were murdered (Tamil Guardian, 2020). In March 2020, Ratnayake was released on presidential pardon (Tamil Guardian, 2020). 

The Tamil Diaspora organisations supported the ban acknowledging the move as an important step towards holding Sri Lanka accountable for committing mass atrocities on the Tamil minority community (Tamil Guardian, 2021b). 

Sources and further reading:

Tamil Guardian (2021a, December 15). PEARL welcomes US sanctions on Sri Lankan soldiers and encourages the sanctioning of other high ranking officials. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/pearl-welcomes-us-sanctions-sri-lankan-soldiers-and-encourages-sanctioning-other-high

Tamil Guardian (2021b, December 16). Tamil Diaspora groups welcome U.S. Travel Ban on Sri Lankan Soldiers and request other countries to follow suit. Tamil Guardian.  https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/tamil-diaspora-groups-welcome-us-travel-ban-sri-lankan-soldiers-and-request-other-countries 

Tamil Guardian (2019, March 22). CID says navy hierarchy knew of 2009 Colombo abductions. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/cid-says-navy-hierarchy-knew-2009-colombo-abductions 

Tamil Guardian (2020, March 26). Sri Lanka pardons soldier imprisoned over massacre of Tamils. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-pardons-soldier-imprisoned-over-massacre-tamils