The ICJ today called on the Government to launch a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the killing of Tamil leader E. Kaushalyan and Amparai District parliamentarian Chandranehru Arianayagam.
The two men along with several colleagues were killed on 7 February 2005 in the Welikanda region in Sri Lanka. Persons found responsible for the killings must be brought to justice.
These killings mark a significant setback following a period in which Sri Lanka has seen a decrease in political killings since the tsunami in late December 2004.
In this instance one of those killed was a senior Tamil Tiger leader. However, in a meeting in October 2004 with S.P. Thamilselvan, leader of the LTTE’s political wing, the ICJ has called on the LTTE leadership itself to end political killings. The ICJ reaffirms that both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government should take measures to respect international human rights and humanitarian law.