US blacklists Sri Lankan governor over rights violation

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US has blacklisted Wasantha Karannagoda, the governor of Sri Lanka’s North Western Province, over allegations of his involvement in a gross human rights violation during his time as a naval commander, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

"As a result of today’s action, Karannagoda and his wife, Srimathi Ashoka Karannagoda, are ineligible for entry into the United States," said Blinken in a statement.

"The allegation that Wasantha Karannagoda committed a gross human rights violation, documented by NGOs and independent investigations, is serious and credible," he said.

"By designating Wasantha Karannagoda, the United States reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, ending impunity for human rights violators, acknowledging the suffering of victims and survivors, and promoting accountability for perpetrators in Sri Lanka," Blinken added.

Karannagoda was accused of being involved in the abduction in the capital Colombo of 11 men and boys between August 2008 and February 2009 and their subsequent disappearance, according to reports.