‘I went to Geneva to fulfill my responsibility’ Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara says
Posted on March 25th, 2017

Q: Why did you go to Geneva?

The UNHRC alleged that the Sri Lankan security forces committed war crimes during the period of the war. It was through baseless information that they founded this allegation. Accepting the Resolution passed in 2015, the Government of Sri Lanka too proceeded to investigate the matter. That is why they agreed to look into the matter by establishing a hybrid court.

The pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Diaspora makes this allegation. In reality, what our military did was to free innocent Tamils from the inhuman clutches of the Tigers. No one says this clearly. However, I have a duty and responsibility to say so. This is why I went to Geneva.

Q: From what we know, no individual can go to the UNHRC session and air their views and make representations. What organization did you represent?

While in Sri Lanka I planned and left for Switzerland to get registered at a temple there and then attend the session. One can participate as a member of a non-governmental organization (NGO). Yet, at the last moment, the temple’s board of lay trustees opposed me.

Q: Why did the temple’s board  of lay trustees oppose you?

This was because they considered me a person who is in favour of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. By this time over 100 pro-Tigers NGOs had got registered.

Q: Following this setback, what did you do?

Afterwards, with the help of the monk, Thawalama Dhammika, I got myself registered as a representative of the International Buddhist Relief Services organization of Chief Incumbent of a temple in Birmingham, England, Witharandeniye Kashyapa. These monks truly sponsored me. This is not for me but a service done to our motherland. It was only after I registered that I obtained an opportunity to present my views.

Q: What did you say?

I pointed out that the LTTE was an extremely brutal terrorist organization. I emphasized that in operations against them, 29,000 soldiers had sacrificed their lives while 14,000 became disabled due to injuries sustained in fighting with the Tigers. I further pointed out that if our military which defeated such a vicious organization were punished after levelling war crime allegations against them, it would be akin to punishing the US Navy SEALS that killed the head of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda terrorists. Although, the UNHRC levelled allegations against the Sri Lankan military on the basis of baseless information, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom raised a strong voice against her soldiers against whom war crime allegations had been levelled. Unfortunately, it is regrettable that we don’t have such a patriotic leader.

Q: What kinds of responses did you receive in Geneva?

One foreign group came near me, tapped me on the shoulder and told me that it was only now that they had really come to know about the other side. This is because up until then what they knew was the propaganda put out by the LTTE Diaspora.

Q: Did the government’s representative mission speak to you in Geneva? Did you meet them?

No. The government’s team pretended to ignore me. It was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha de Silva who was there at the time. They ignored me because they feared that an allegation would be levelled against them.

Q: Who else from Sri Lanka was there in Geneva?

There was a large group who had come to talk on behalf of the Tigers. Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, former MP, M.K. Shivajilingam, Northern Provincial Councilor, Anandi Sasidaran, former MP, V. Anandasangaree’s son S.G. Anandasangaree, trade unionist, Saman Ratnapriya and civil society activists Sunanda Deshapriya and Dr. Nimalka Fernando were there to talk against our country and the Sri Lankan military.

Dr. Fernando started off her statement by stating that she had been victimized by the previous government. We don’t know what kind of pressure was levelled against Dr. Fernando by the previous regime.

Q: What kind of influence did you have?

It was only I who spoke on behalf of the country and the military. A certain message went out to the world because of it. Also, at the next UNHRC session, one can find out the impact I may have had from the work I did. A team of ours has to go to the next UNHRC session.

Q: Did you meet the heads of the UNHRC?

No. However, I handed over my document to the Secretary of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

15 Responses to “‘I went to Geneva to fulfill my responsibility’ Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara says”

  1. Ananda-USA Says:

    It is WELL PAST THE TIME that MANY PATRIOTIC Sri Lankan organizations registered themselves as civil society NGOs and went to Geneva to present our case on behalf of OUR Motherland!

    The EELAMISTS are wiinning by DEFAULT, because we have ONLY an UNPATRIOTIC Government representing the country working hand-in-glove with EELAMISTS!

    Are we SO STUPID not to CONFRONT and DEFEAT the EELAMISTS at their own game of manipulating the UNHRC and Western public opinion at these CRITICAL MEETINGS?

    We CAN DO THIS; we HAVE the PEOPLE in each Western country, and we can RAISE the NECESSARY FUNDS EASILY; let us set it up NOW, and BEAT THEM at their OWN GAME!

  2. Fran Diaz Says:

    Ananda,
    We agreee with you !

  3. Fran Diaz Says:

    Our Grateful thanks again to Rr Admiral Sarath Weerasekara.

    ———–

    Some Comments on How the TNA reacted in Geneva and our queries :

    First, a question : Who was the person who told some falsehoods and then attacked Adm Sarath and shouted ‘arrest
    him’ ? If anyone knows who this is, please let us know.

    Let’s address the Real Core Problems affecting Tamils of Lanka (and also of some in Tamil Nadu, around 15 Million Tamils of Dalit origin) :

    #1.What about Tamils ill treating Tamils due to the CASTE SYSTEM – it is NOT the Sinhala or Other people in Lanka or TN who are responsible for the CASTE SYSTEM of Tamils. This intractable discrimination has gone on for over 3,000 yrs mainly due to CASTE problems, and not addressed by the Tamil leaders or the International Community OR the UNHRC !

    Blame for ails these Tamil people have been consistently pasted on the GoSL & the Armed Forces of Lanka – all sorts of false accusations have been aimed at Lanka, the opportunity to do so internationally and at the UN arising after the war with the LTTE in 2009.

    #2 It was SWRD who liberated the Caste bound Tamils of the North, first with the Tamil Language Act (Sp Prov) (1958), and also the Social Disabilities Act (1957), which enabled low caste children to enter a classroom and get educated.
    In “return” for these kind gestures by SWRD (who was assassinated, his acts construed as betrayal by a few Sinhala people), the then Tamil leaders brought in the Vadukoddai Resolution in 1976 – Eelam through Violence.

    It is high time that this V’Resolution (1976) is officially revoked by the present Tamil leaders. It was the V’Resolution that started the spate of killing by the nascent LTTE that later grew into the full blown terrorist organisation.

    #3. What about Justice for those mainly Sinhala & Muslim families and even some Tamil families in Sri Lanka, where members were robbed, killed & maimed, and chased out by the LTTE from the N&E. ? What about compensation to Victims of the LTTE ? What have present day Tamil leaders to say about those crimes ?

    #4. What about ILLEGAL MIGRANTS from Tamil Nadu now in Sri Lanka ? INDIA must take them back.
    INDIA must also give citizenship to those Tamil people in the camps in Tamil Nadu, their Homeland.

    #5. What about addressing containing the effects of droughts/floods in Tamil Nadu which brings in hoardes of Tamil folk (opportunity to flee TN CASTE system) into Lanka ? The Tamil Diaspora collected funds for the LTTE for decades since the mid-1980’s – this money could have been used to counter the effects of droughts/floods in TN – it can be done even now, at this late stage. What are Tamil leaders in TN doing about this ?

    #7. We request a permanent committment from Tamil Leaders, now and in the future, for PATRIOTISM toward Sri Lanka, which is the country of their birth & citizenship, where they receive FREE Education, Health Care, and all the Rights that others in Lanka have.

    I am sure there are other points to bring out here.

    The UNHRC folk & the foreign blocs have consistently turned a blind eye on the Core Problems affecting the Tamil folk in Sri Lanka as well as some 15 Million Dalits in Tamil Nadu. Why ?

  4. Cerberus Says:

    Dear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera,
    Thank you so much for being the voice of the forgotten heroes and the Sinhala people who have been downtrodden by this Yamapalanaya drohis. Please keep strong and continue your good work. Please note the original of the CH4 video which shows LTTE shooting Sinhala soldiers yelling in Tamil which was dubbed into Sinhala and shown on CH4 as being the work of Sinhala soldiers. http://www.terrorinlanka.com. There is a lot of other information on this website.​ Please also look at this article from the Lankaweb given below. Thank you for all you do.
    http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/12/24/it-is-the-sinhalese-who-need-protection-under-the-r2p-of-the-un-from-77-million-tamils-across-the-palk-straits/

  5. Fran Diaz Says:

    Forming any Tamil Eelam in Lanka is like treating a person who really has a broken leg for a headache – won’t work.
    Even ten Tamil Eelams will not heal the basic problem of what ails the Tamil people of Lanka.

    Using the Tamil Language in Lanka as a ‘binder’ to bind the Caste bound Tamils will not work. It did not work for some 3,000 yrs before, and will not work now. If Language is the binder, then there ought to be no more CASTE problems in Tamil Nadu.

    CASTE is stated in the birth certificates of those in Tamil Nadu & INDIA. CASTE base is used for the INDIAN Census. All Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, etc are categorised under Scheduled Castes in INDIA for purposes of the Census done there.

    Sri Lanka cannot ‘die’ to solve Tamil Nadu problems.
    Tamil Nadu basic problems due to CASTE will not end with Lanka’s ‘death’. Lanka will only get absorbed into Tamil Nadu culture and CASTE will be re-imposed in Lanka.
    Take over Lanka by Tamils will only ensure the worsening of their own problem.

    “SAVE LANKA” project must start with Tamil Leaders PATRIOTISM to Lanka.
    Tamil Leaders are the most important people in this project.

    Let us ALL get together and remove the ILLEGAL 13-A, the great ‘divide & rule’ law.

  6. Lorenzo Says:

    All patriots in SL please come to the KIA airport on MARCH 30 at 5-30 PM to welcome the HERO of HEROES and future president of SL Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara.

  7. Fran Diaz Says:

    ALSO get Wimal Weerawansa released from absurd charges and jail terms, so that he can stop the Protest Fast and go home to his family !!

  8. Lorenzo Says:

    Wimal Weerawansa is a JO MP. JO should do more to get him out. IF JO cannot save even one of their own, how can they save the country?

    NO senior JO MP has gone to see him since his fasting began!

  9. Fran Diaz Says:

    Well, if JO cannot get him out, then it means the Law is flawed in Lanka, and the Law Is not followed. That is the fault of those in power, the Yahap govt.

    All the senior JO people have been harrassed by Yahap for two years.

  10. Fran Diaz Says:

    Begs the Question :

    If a group of people get punished for SAVING TGE COUNTRY from Terrorism, is there Democracy in that country ? NO !

    In Sri Lanka, it certainly does not seem to have any Democracy. The Law of the Land appears dead.
    What is going on in Lanka is a sort of Fascism/Sadism, coming from some strange recipe made abroad.

    Whither Democracy in Lanka ?
    Whither Justice in Lanka ?

    Shame on Yahap !!

  11. Sarath W Says:

    First of all it is the duty of all patriotic Sri Lankans to thank Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera for taking this fearless stand to stand up on behalf of our brave armed forces. Thank you Sir.

    We the patriotic Sri Lankans quite rightly blame the treacherous leaders of this the current puppet government for these UNHCR resolutions. But we also must wake up to the reality of the lack of action from the previous government which had lead to this current situation. What is Mahinda and Gota doing even now to defend our gallant armed forces instead leaving it to this brave officer Sarath Weerasekera? It is time for Mahinda to show real leadership again if he has any ambitions of leading the country instead of leaving it to Wimal and others to do the to the hard work for him. Just making a statement that he will topple the government this year will not make it happen. He must come out with a real plan like conducting a referendum on the 13th amendment and banning all racially named political parties.

  12. Fran Diaz Says:

    Every time MR speaks out, one of his family members gets harrassed by Yahap controlled High Courts of Lanka.

    In fact, Wimal Weerawansa has gone on a Protest Fast as he was refused bail on the flimsy (we say : stupid & concocted)charges levied against him. He further states that he DOES NOT WANT THE GOVT TO INTERFERE WITH THE LAW, and that is why he is continuing with the Protest Fast.

    The Yahap looks sillier by the day.

    It is high time the Yahap govt shows true PATRIOTISM in Lanka.

    The MR Govt have already proved their PATRIOTISM by removing the LTTE, for which they are paying dearly as some foreign countries did not want that done ! The citizens of Lanka must surely know that.

    It is now up to Yahap to prove that they are PATRIOTIC too, by first removing the ILLEGAL 13-A.

  13. Lorenzo Says:

    Fran,

    That is hardly an EXCUSE.

    JO must do MUCH MORE to bring the matter to the attention of govt. and UNHRC and AGITATE to release him. IF hey can’t save their OWN kind, how can they save the PEOPLE?

    WW has 2 young kids. It is NOT what WW prioritizes. JO must do more to save this FATHER and HUSBAND.

    UNITY IS STRENGTH.

    Otherwise there will be NO ONE to stand up for MR and GR IF they are arrested.

  14. Fran Diaz Says:

    The JO has taken steps re Wimal’s arrest.

    At the JO Galle meeting just the other day, an OATH was taken to secure Wimal’s release. It was the MAIN TOPIC at the Galle JO meeting.

    What are other Patriots doing re Wimal’s arrest ?

    The PUBLIC now has to get ready re What To Do re other possible unlawful arrests by the childish, stupid and UNPATRIOTIC Yahap govt.

  15. Fran Diaz Says:

    We also suggest that Wimal’s arrest was a “RED HERRING” TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE INFAMOUS BOND SCAM, YET NOT RESOLVED BY THE YAHAP GOVT.

    Actually, by doing this, Yahap has drawn MORE attention to the Bond Scam.

    Told you that Yahap is stupid …….

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