The California District Court of US has dismissed and denied allegations levelled against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Ahimsa Wickramatunga, the daughter of slain Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga on the ground that it was a officially sanctioned killing and as defence secratary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ” foreign official immunity”.
We reproduce number of tweets which gives a clear picture of the judgement.
Another key point from judgement: @GotabayaR 's citizenship is still in dispute. https://t.co/vtGRU3twf3
— M A Ratna (@maratnasiri) October 22, 2019
It is official: US court upholds @GotabayaR 's defence that Lasantha was assassinated as an "official act" of the #LKA regime of @PresRajapaksa when he was secretary to the ministry of defence. Therefore, GR is entitled to "foreign official immunity" from prosecution. pic.twitter.com/8MkUBh0oiE
— M A Ratna (@maratnasiri) October 22, 2019
It is official: US court upholds @GotabayaR 's defence that Lasantha was assassinated as an "official act" of the #LKA regime of @PresRajapaksa when he was secretary to the ministry of defence. Therefore, GR is entitled to "foreign official immunity" from prosecution. pic.twitter.com/8MkUBh0oiE
— M A Ratna (@maratnasiri) October 22, 2019
The Court made no finding on the actual merits of the allegations against Rajapaksa.
The decision comes even though Lasantha’s assassination was neither authorized nor ratified by
the Sri Lankan government: Center for Justice & Accountability @CJA_News
https://t.co/XYRg8Wl30g— dharisha (@tingilye) October 22, 2019
"There is no immunity when government officials act outside their authority to torture and murder journalists. Defendant Rajapaksa, a U.S. citizen, can and must be held accountable in U.S. courts,” says Natalie L. Reid, counsel to Ahimsa. @CJA_News https://t.co/XYRg8Wl30g
— dharisha (@tingilye) October 22, 2019
US court finds GR has immunity as his actions (Lasantha's murder) were undertaken "in an official capacity as Sri Lankan Secretary of Defence". They didn't find him innocent. Also noted US citizenship is in dispute. pic.twitter.com/xXHOGLnvQA
— Mangala Samaraweera (@MangalaLK) October 22, 2019
Lasantha Wickrematunge's daughter to appeal District Court decision in California:
"Killing a journalist because of their reporting should never be seen as an official state act. My lawyers & I will continue to fight": Ahimsa Wickrematungehttps://t.co/XYRg8Wl30g
— dharisha (@tingilye) October 22, 2019