The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has summoned a report from Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana regarding the commanding Officer of the Mullaitivu Air Force camp did not co-operate with the Human Rights Commission’s investigation into the arrest and detention of a group including the General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, Joseph Stalin.
This letter was under signed by the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jagath Balasuriya and sent to the Commander of the Air Force on the 14th July.
It states that according to a complaint received by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on the 9th of this month, under the complaint No HRC / 1443/21. The Jaffna Coordinating Officer of the Commission, Mr. T. Kanagaraj, and his team visited the Mullaitivu air force camp required information for the investigation was not provided by the officers of the Air Force base and the Head Office was informed to the air force commander about this and that the team had gone for a second day of preliminary investigation.
The Commanding Officer of the Air Force camp came to meet investigating team who visited for second time at the gate of the entrance but they were not allowed to inspect the Quarantine Center.
The Commission notes that by doing so, the role and powers of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka are being undermined, and that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has the power to monitor the detention of persons by a court order or otherwise under act of 1996, article no. 21. Therefore, the Chairman of the Commission has instructed the Commander of the Air Force to inquire into the non-cooperation in the preliminary inquiry and to send a report to the Commission before 20th July.
-Shani-