Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Friday allowed proceedings of a case filed by a rights group against the Rajapaksa clan, alleging that members of the then-powerful family were directly responsible for the country’s foreign debt and worst economic crisis.
Transparency International Sri Lanka filed a PIL on June 17, claiming that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his brothers Mahinda Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse, former central bank governor Ajit Nivard Cabral and top finance ministry bureaucrat SR Attigale were responsible for the economic crisis. was directly responsible for
The rights group claimed that the defendants named in the petition were directly responsible for the volatility of Sri Lanka’s external debt, its loan defaults and the current economic crisis.
The petitioner’s lawyers had argued that the failure of the Rajapaksa leadership to act in time led to the bankruptcy of Sri Lanka and declared that the country was unable to meet its international debt commitments.
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The Rajapaksa family dominated Sri Lanka’s political scene for nearly two decades, before all of the brothers were forced to leave after unprecedented anti-government protests.
The apex court’s permission comes a day after the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva included Sri Lanka’s economic crimes and corruption in its latest resolution for accountability for alleged rights abuses that have been in place since 2009.
The resolution calls for an inquiry into the ongoing economic crisis and the prosecution of those responsible.
It “calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to address the ongoing economic crisis by including investigation and prosecution of corruption, where committed by public and former public officials, and assisting and supporting independent, fair and transparent efforts in this regard.” ready for”.
India avoided the draft resolution to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka which was adopted.
While refraining, India stressed that it would work with Sri Lanka and the international community to achieve the legitimate aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils and the respective objectives of prosperity of all Sri Lankans.
The draft resolution on ‘Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka’ was adopted at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, with 20 countries voting in favor of the 47-member council, seven including China and Pakistan, were against. and 20 restraints including India, Japan, Nepal and Qatar.
Sri Lanka expressed opposition to the resolution as a violation of its sovereignty except in 2015 when they co-sponsored the resolution.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa was ousted in mid-July in a popular public revolt against him for being dragged into the economic crisis.
Sri Lanka is almost bankrupt and has stopped repaying its foreign debt of USD 51 billion, of which it will have to repay USD 28 billion by 2027.
Sri Lanka has signed a preliminary agreement with the IMF for a rescue package worth USD 2.9 billion over four years. Its completion hinges on assurances from Sri Lankan creditors on debt restructuring.
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