CTC Deeply Concerned About Arrest of Human Rights Defenders in Sri Lanka

For Immediate Release

March 18th, 2014

TC Deeply Concerned About Arrest of Human Rights Defenders in Sri Lanka

Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) notes with extreme concern the actions of the Sri Lankan government over the last week in detaining and interrogating human rights defenders in Sri Lanka. The fact that this targeting of human rights defenders is occurring as the UN Human Rights Council discusses Sri Lanka is particularly alarming and demonstrates the government’s evident lack of regard for international processes and human rights.

On March 13th, 2014, prominent human rights activist for the disappeared, Jeyakumari Balendran, and her 13 year old daughter, Vipoosika were arrested by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and taken from their home in Killinochchi. While the daughter has reportedly been released, Jeyakumari continues to be held at Boosa Detention Centre under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Concerned about the fate of Balendran and her young daughter in custody, two other activists, Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan travelled to Kilinochchi to inquire about their condition. Fernando and Father Praveen were subsequently arrested on terrorism charges and detained at the Killinochchi police station. As of yet, none of their friends or family have been allowed in to see them but they are being held at the Terrorism Investigation Department’s headquarters in Colombo. The details of their arrest still remain unknown.

“The detention and interrogation of these four human rights defenders is a disturbing reminder that the rhetoric employed by the Sri Lankan government in Geneva in no way represents the realities on the ground”, stated David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress. “Instead, the Sri Lankan government is deliberately trying to silence any parties that reveal its ongoing human rights violations to the world”, concluded Poopalapillai.

For more information, please contact: David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson, Canadian Tamil Congress 416-240-0078