The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) says that the family of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is entitled to the protection of the law to a safe return to the country and recommends that the government provide adequate protection to his family to return to the country.
In a letter addressed to the President, the HRCSL says that it has received several complainants alleging that Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had tendered his resignation under threat and coercion and the government had failed to provide adequate security to him during this period.
“And now, the Ex-President and his family intend to return to the Country. The complaint is based on the premise that the Ex-President and family cannot return to the country due to the prevailing threats they face and that it violates fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution for every citizen.”
The HRCSL said it has gone through the complaint and that it grossly violates the fundamental rights guaranteed to every citizen if that citizen cannot return to the country for extraneous reasons beyond his control and which are within the control of the State to eliminate.
Primarily it is inherent for all citizens to return to their country whenever such a citizen seems necessary, the commission said, adding that under Article 14 (1) (i) of the constitution “every citizen is entitled to the freedom to return to sri Lanka.”
“It is alleged in the complaint that Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family, who are citizens of this country, are unable to return to the country due to prevailing threats to their lives.”
HRCSL said it unequivocally violates fundamental rights if all persons are not guaranteed equal protection under the law.
“All persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law,” under Article 12 (1), it said.
The commission said the complaint further alleged that the Ex-President could not return to the Country unless the Government guaranteed the security he is entitled to under the law as Ex-President of Sri Lanka.
The Commission said it observed that Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is entitled to certain privileges and benefits as an Ex-President established under law.
The letter further states: “It is recommended that the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) takes all necessary steps to assess the threat situation and provide the Ex-President with the security protection provided under the law for an Ex-President to return to the country whenever he makes such a request.”
“The Family of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now living aboard, is entitled to the protection of the law to a safe return to the country. The HRCSL recommends that the GOSL provide adequate protection to the family of Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return to the country.”
“The Law enforcement officials of Sri Lanka should assess the threat situation that would affect the violation of the fundamental Rights of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family now living abroad to return to the country and take all reasonable and appropriate means to prevent and or remedy such infringement within the framework of the law of Sri Lanka and permit their safe return to the country.”
