Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an all Sinhalese board to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).
The HRCSL, which will have no Tamil or Muslim representation, will be headed Jagath Balasuriya. The four other members are Vijitha Nanyakkara, Chandana Udawatta , Harsha Nawaratne and Kumari Balalla.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is an accused criminal, appointed the officials as a part of a wider delegation of nominees for 5 independent commissions. The commission include the National Election Commission ( NEC), Public Service Commission, Police Commission, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka ( HRCSL) and the Commission to investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC). Across all nominations there is minimal representation of Tamils and Women.
One member of the CIABOC, is former director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Chandra Nimal Wakishta. He is accused of misleading Interpol and British Authorities by issuing an illegal arrest warrant in 2014. Chandra Nimal Wakishta had issued a false arrest warrant for a family travelling to the UK and requesting their deportation. British authorities were poised to make the arrest but then found the family to have their documents in order.
Earlier this year Ambika Satkunanathan, the only Tamil member of the commission resigned.
Read more from FT Lanka
