28 September 2011Leaked US embassy cables, state that MP Mervyn Silva was believed to be giving patronage to drug traffickers in 2009, along side his son, Malika Silva.
"According to a former Sri Lankan security services official, drug kingpins in Sri Lanka have political patrons in the government, chief among them Dr. Mervyn Silva, a Member of Parliament and the Minister of Labor."A further cable drew attention to the wider culture of impunity within the Sri Lankan state, highlighting its failure to investigate or prosecution those accused of corruption whilst in public office.
"His son, Malika Silva, is suspected of trafficking the drug “ecstasy” in Colombo nightclubs."
"A government commission established to investigate bribery and corruptioncharges against public officials that resumed operations in 2004 continued through 2009, although with little activity."According to the cables, in 2009, Sri Lanka experienced an increase in the consumption of heroin, cannabis and ecstasy.
"There are unconfirmed reports of links between drug traffickers and individual corrupt officials."
"However, since late 2007, there have been no arrests of government officials on bribery or corruption charges related to drugs."
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Tamils continue struggle for self-determination after Sri Lanka's killing fields
| SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
The war in Sri Lanka spanned over three decades and reached its bloody conclusion in May 2009. Both the UN Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka and a U.K. film entitled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields agreed that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thousands of men, women and children were killed throughout northern Sri Lanka during the last phase of the war. more>>>
