Chagie’s visa application under consideration – AHC

Application submitted in Sept. 2016

By Shamindra Ferdinando-March 23, 2017, 11:03 pm 

The Australian High Commission yesterday said that no final decision had been taken in respect of Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage’s visa application.

Veteran Gajaba Regiment officer is Director General of Infantry.

The Australian High Commission was responding to The island query whether any other Sri Lakan military officer had been denied visa over unsubstantiated war crimes allegations.

A spokesperson for the HC said that Maj. Gen. Gallage’s application ‘remains under assessment.’

Asked whether current Australian stance on alleged war crimes/accountability issues remained until the outcome of proposed UN supervised investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity, the spokesperson said that the HC wouldn’t comment further on this or any other visa matter relating to Sri Lankan military officers.

Commenting on the latest Geneva Resolution on Sri Lanka, the spokesperson said: "The Australian Government is pleased to have joined the Sri Lankan Government and others this week in co-sponsoring UN Human Rights Commission resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.  Australia recognises the progress made so far by Sri Lanka in these areas, but recognises also the need for more work to implement Sri Lanka’s commitments on transitional justice."

However, well informed sources told The Island that Maj. Gen. Gallage’s applied for visa last September to visit his brother in Dec. 2016-January 2017. Sources said that Gallage’s brother, an Australian citizen of Sri Lankan origin had visited Colombo especially to make representations to the Australian HC. Following that meeting the Australian department of Immigration and Border Protection issued a report titled ‘Potential Controversial Visitor’ citing war crimes and crimes against humanity as reason for denying Gallege a visa.

Australians found fault with the Maj Gen for commanding the 59 Division on the Vanni east front.