COLOMBO (NewsRadio); The United States has announced that it is designating former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023, due to his alleged involvement in violation of human rights during his tenure as the Naval Commander.
The US State Department said in a statement, former Navy Commander and the current Governor of the North-Western Province Wasantha Karannagoda and his wife will be ineligible for entry into the United States.
The State Department claimed that the allegation that Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda committed human rights violation, documented by NGOs and independent investigations, is serious and credible.
It added by designating former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, the United States reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, ending impunity for human rights violators, acknowledging the suffering of victims and survivors, and promoting accountability for perpetrators in Sri Lanka.
The statement also noted that the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Government of Sri Lanka is based on 75 years of shared history, values, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The State Department said as the two nations continue to build bilateral relationships, the US is committed to working with the Sri Lankan government on advancing justice, accountability, and reconciliation, including promoting security reform that maintains human rights at the forefront while ensuring Sri Lanka has the resources and training to properly address emerging security concerns.
