As Mahinda Rajapaksa takes over the position of Commonwealth chairperson-in-office, he faces pressure to investigate human rights abuses in Sri Lanka [Getty Images]
 With an international war crimes inquiry dangerously close, Sri Lanka's president takes on big powers.
-25 Nov 2013
Ameen Izzadeen is the deputy editor of the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka and international editor at the Wijeya Newspaper Group, Sri Lanka.
With an international war crimes inquiry dangerously close, Sri Lanka's president takes on big powers.
When Sri Lanka's former President J R Jayewardene was accused of showing scant respect for human rights in the early days of the country's separatist war, he said in the 1980s, "All is fair in love and war." Quoting the 16th century English poet John Lyly, the erudite president was able to silence some of his critics.
But President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who last week assumed the title of Commonwealth chairperson-in-office, has no such excuses. He is being cornered.
|
