#SriLanka vows to continue with controversial 'Yukthiya' anti-drug operation despite @UN warning it commits a number of rights violations.
— LankaFiles (@lankafiles) January 16, 2024
“We won’t stop on any one’s statement. We will carry on in the same manner,” says Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles amid applause. pic.twitter.com/YyPqnFYg4w
(Video courtesy of LankaFiles)
Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles has vowed to continue the controversial “Yukthiya” Operation adding that they "will not stop based on anyone’s statement", after coming under criticism from the UN human rights chief.
Addressing a gathering of media and newly appointed members to community police committees, Alles cautioned that there “was a gang of people who are envious and working against the interest of this country.”
“Some of them are writing to international organizations. Some of you may have seen a statement from the Secretary General of the UNHRC. A Tamil newspaper asked me, what they must do about this statement. I asked them to publish it and to state that I categorically emphasized that we will continue with this operation, in the same manner we started.” he told the gathering amid applause.
Alles faulted a section of lawyers stating that a “handful of them were doing it for money,” accusing them of writing to International Organizations. He said they were benefitting from “money from NGOs and when they get the money, they put out statements.”
He referred to the many court cases being piled up against Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon citing that several court cases have been put forward with the only demand being that Tennakoon not be given the IGP post.
Tens of thousands of people have been arrested in the controversial operation so far, with the UN stating that frequent rights abuses had occurred.
