-By A Special Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -21.Jan.2025, 11.00 PM) As former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe plans a visit to London in late January, two international human rights organizations are intensifying their campaign to secure an arrest warrant against him. The organizations allege Wickremesinghe’s involvement in crimes against humanity during the late 1980s, specifically tied to the notorious Batalanda torture chambers. This effort is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction, a legal doctrine that allows courts in certain countries, including the United Kingdom, to prosecute individuals for severe international crimes such as torture, regardless of where they were committed.
The move draws parallels to the landmark case of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested in London in 1998 under universal jurisdiction for his regime’s crimes. If successful, it could mark another pivotal moment in holding world leaders accountable for alleged atrocities committed during their tenure.
The Batalanda detention center, located in the Biyagama electorate near Colombo, became infamous during Sri Lanka’s 1987–89 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurrection. It was reportedly used by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Sri Lanka Police to detain, interrogate, and torture individuals suspected of being linked to the JVP, a Marxist-Leninist group that led a violent rebellion against the government.
The allegations against Wickremesinghe stem from his role as a senior minister in the United National Party (UNP)-led government at the time. While Wickremesinghe has denied direct involvement, testimonies and accounts from survivors and whistleblowers, including former police officers, suggest otherwise.
In particular, retired police officer Douglas Peiris, once part of the CSU, has submitted an affidavit implicating Wickremesinghe in overseeing and facilitating the operations at Batalanda. Peiris claims that Wickremesinghe gave explicit orders that led to the disappearance and extrajudicial killing of over 3,000 youths, many of whom were innocent.
The doctrine of universal jurisdiction allows national courts to prosecute individuals for grave crimes such as torture, war crimes, and genocide, even if these crimes occurred outside the prosecuting country’s borders. The UK is one of the few countries with this legal mechanism, and human rights organizations are leveraging it to demand justice for the victims of Batalanda.
This legal avenue has been successfully used in the past, most notably in the arrest of Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet’s detention in London was a watershed moment for international justice, signaling that former heads of state could no longer rely on impunity for crimes committed during their rule.
The organizations pursuing the case against Wickremesinghe are reportedly working with British legal experts to file a formal application for an arrest warrant before his arrival in London. Their efforts are supported by documented evidence, survivor testimonies, and statements from whistleblowers like Douglas Peiris.
The Batalanda detention center was notorious for its systematic use of torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. Survivors and witnesses describe harrowing conditions, including:
Detainees being subjected to physical and psychological torture.
Summary executions, with bodies disposed of secretly.
Families of detainees being denied information about their loved ones, many of whom were never seen again.
The Batalanda Commission of Inquiry, established in 1995, investigated these allegations. Although the commission’s findings were never officially published, leaks suggested that it implicated Wickremesinghe in indirectly enabling the center’s operations. Critics argue that subsequent governments deliberately buried the findings to protect political allies.
Wickremesinghe, who served multiple terms as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister before briefly becoming President, has consistently denied any involvement in human rights abuses. His supporters argue that the accusations are politically motivated, aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
However, the evidence against him continues to mount. Human rights activists argue that Wickremesinghe, as a senior government figure, cannot simply wash his hands of responsibility for the atrocities committed under his administration. His failure to act against the operations at Batalanda, they say, makes him complicit.
One of the key pieces of evidence being used by human rights organizations is the affidavit submitted by Douglas Peiris, a former police officer who was directly involved in the operations at Batalanda.
Peiris, who later fled Sri Lanka and sought asylum abroad, has publicly admitted to participating in torture and extrajudicial killings at Batalanda. He claims he did so under direct orders from senior government officials, including Wickremesinghe.
In his affidavit, Peiris alleges that Wickremesinghe not only authorized the operations but also provided political cover for the CSU and other paramilitary groups involved in the crackdown.
If an arrest warrant is issued and Wickremesinghe is detained in London, it would have profound implications:
1. Accountability for Past Atrocities: The case could provide long-awaited justice for the families of those who disappeared during the JVP insurrection.
2. A Precedent for International Justice: It would reinforce the principle that no leader is above the law, regardless of their political status.
3. Impact on Sri Lanka’s Politics: Wickremesinghe’s arrest could further polarize Sri Lankan politics, with his supporters claiming persecution and his detractors hailing it as a victory for justice.
The case against Wickremesinghe also shines a light on Sri Lanka’s broader struggle with impunity. Despite decades of alleged war crimes, disappearances, and human rights abuses, few perpetrators have been held accountable.
Successive governments have been accused of shielding political allies and military officials from prosecution, leading to a culture of lawlessness and mistrust in the justice system.
Unsurprisingly, the push for an arrest warrant has sparked intense debate.
Supporters of Justice: Human rights groups and victims’ families argue that Wickremesinghe’s detention would send a strong message that justice cannot be delayed forever.
Defenders of Wickremesinghe: His supporters dismiss the allegations as a smear campaign orchestrated by political opponents. They claim that Wickremesinghe’s leadership was instrumental in stabilizing the country during a turbulent period.
As Wickremesinghe prepares for his visit to London, the clock is ticking for human rights organizations to secure an arrest warrant. Legal experts caution that such cases are complex and require strong evidence to meet the threshold for universal jurisdiction.
Regardless of the outcome, the renewed focus on Batalanda and Sri Lanka’s dark history serves as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and justice. For the victims and their families, the question remains: Will this be the moment when the world finally hears their cries for justice?
Wickremesinghe may claim innocence, but the shadow of Batalanda looms large. Whether in a courtroom or in the court of public opinion, the truth has a way of surfacing—sooner or later
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by (2025-01-21 17:39:22)
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