US sanctions former Sri Lankan Navy commander for human rights violations

The US has sanctioned former Sri Lankan Navy top commander Vasanth Karnangoda for “serious violations” of human rights during the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Sri Lanka strongly objected to the US move, terming it as a ‘unilateral’ action, saying it could have ‘adverse effects’. Karnangoda, 70, who was the Navy Commander from 2005 to 2009, is the second top Sri Lankan military officer in the past three years to be sanctioned by the US for serious human rights violations during the war with the LTTE.

Earlier, the US State Department had imposed sanctions on Sri Lanka’s current Chief of Defense (CDS) General Shavendra Silva in 2020. Silva was the divisional chief of the army during the last fight against the LTTE and was later made a commander. In 2009, Karnangoda took the lead in the last battle to eliminate the LTTE. He was later appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on Wednesday saying, “The US State Department has designated former Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vasanth Karnangoda for serious human rights violations. The United States will continue to seek justice for the victims of the Sri Lankan civil war.”

Reacting strongly to the US move, Sri Lanka has said such unilateral action by Washington without following due process could have “adverse effects”. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, “Such unilateral action by the United States, a long-standing bilateral partner of Sri Lanka, without following due process, could adversely affect the holistic approach that Sri Lanka has used to promote national unity and reconciliation.” done to deal with the issue of “Foreign Minister Ali Sabri conveyed Sri Lanka’s serious concerns regarding this decision to US Ambassador Julie Chung,” the statement said.

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