Rajapaksas second term oversaw sustained economic growth, and he continued to enjoy the strong support of the large Sinhalese majority in the country. After covertly searching under carpets and in washrooms, hotel staff found the ring on the floor near the VIP table. Although the UPFA failed to secure the two-thirds majority necessary to amend the constitution, in September an amendment was approved by Parliament, with the support of some opposition members, that removed limits on the number of terms a president could serve, granted judicial immunity to the president, and gave the president broader powers in making governmental appointments. The lamentation of this country's innocents should be raised anywhere. [95][96][97], Rajapaksa released his manifesto, titled Mahinda's Vision The World Winning Path, on 23 December 2014 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. 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Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned as prime minister on Monday amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in [68][92][93][94] After much hesitation, the All Ceylon Muslim Congress and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also withdrew from the UPFA government, on 22 and 28 December 2014 respectively, blaming the government's failure to protect Sri Lankan Muslims from Sinhalese Buddhist extremists. 7 million scholarships by Rajapaksa himself. Though I was devastated by her death, I recalled her wish to donate organs and decided to act according to her wishes, he said. However, due to the brothers economic policies, that image failed to be sustained. On 3 May 2022, a motion of no confidence aimed at Rajapaksa and his cabinet was declared by opposition leaders. The government also claimed that the Rajapaksa family siphoned the money away from Sri Lanka with the help of the governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lankan (CBSL), who was a close associate of the family. Talking about it, Rajitha Senarathne, the cabinets spokesperson, said The complaint requests that the Human Rights Committee ensure that Sri Lanka conducts an independent investigation, prosecutes those responsible, and apologizes to and compensates the Wickrematunge family. However, in 2017 he claimed that "there needs to be a standard. The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was allegedly killed by a military-linked hit squad while driving to work on Jan. 8, 2009. The loyalists were then armed with iron bars and assaulted unarmed protesters near Temple Trees and destroyed MynaGoGama. The eldest son, who was about 20 years old in 2005, graduated from St. Thomas, a prestigious private Christian school in a Colombo suburb and was Five people have died, including a ruling party MP, and more than 190 injured in violence in the capital. Corrections? His younger sister, Jayanthi Rajapaksa, is a former member of the Nationwide protests broke out in March and continued in the weeks ahead. In the mid-fifties, the Rajapaksa family moved to Colombo and Mahinda Rajapaksa was admitted to Nalanda College, Colombo. After losing the seat in 1977, he focused on his law career until reentering Parliament in 1989, this time representing the Hambantota district (19892005). He held this post until 1997 when, following a cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was changed to Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. [14] His mother Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake was from Palatuwa, Matara. Though his second term officially was to end in November 2016, he could legally seek re-election after completing four years in office, a marker he passed on 19 November. The first anniversary of the first protest near Rajapaksas residence at Mirihana, Nugegoda was on March 31. It was around this time last year that the aragalaya or protest campaign against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa began. [27], Immediately following his election victory, a series of mine blasts blamed on the LTTE claimed the lives of many off-duty servicemen and civilians, pushing the country back to the brink of civil war. [174] Noyahr was abducted and severely assaulted before being released in May 2008, after which he fled to Australia with his family, fearing for his life. At the age of six, he was sent to his father's school Richmond College in Galle. Rajapaksa was born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, in Weeraketiya, in the rural southern district of Hambantota to an established political family. Mahinda sought to capitalize on that image to increase the SLPPs number of parliamentary seats in the legislative elections scheduled for August 5twice delayed because of the pandemicwith the purpose of enabling the party and its allies to amend the constitution and expand the powers of the presidency. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) A daughter of a slain Sri Lankan journalist filed a complaint Friday with the United Nations Human Rights Committee over alleged government involvement in her fathers death 12 years ago. [108], In June 2018, The New York Times reported that President Rajapaksa, during the 2015 presidential campaign and elections, received large payments from a Chinese port construction fund that flowed directly to campaign aides and activities. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, had succeeded his brother D. M. Rajapaksa's seat in the State Council of Ceylon following the latter's death in May 1945. Furthermore, the cessation of aid to the tsunami-damaged LTTE-occupied areas, and the sidelining of the Norwegian facilitators due to their alleged bias were included. [147], On 18 December 2018, the Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, announced that Mahinda Rajapaksa had been appointed as Leader of the Opposition, with the UPFA joining the opposition benches in Parliament. [26], The agreement made with Rajapaksa included provisions that called for a revision of the ceasefire agreement to give the military broader powers against the LTTE, as well as ruling out any devolution of power to the Tamil people. Rajapaksas popularity surged, but international observers criticized his armys brutality in the wars final battle, which had led to many civilian deaths. Initially, he and his elder brother were boarded with a family in Galle, later their mother rented a house in Galle called the 'Singapore House' and moved there to facilitate the education of the growing family. However, Rajapaksa has accused the PRECIFAC of being unconstitutional, and Rajapaksa's lawyers objected to its composition. The daughter of the slain journalist filed a complaint Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, with the United Nations Human Rights Committee over alleged government involvement in her fathers death 12 years ago. Ten students were given each given Rs. [86] On nomination day, 8 December 2014, two opposition MPs, Tissa Attanayake and Jayantha Ketagoda, defected to the government to support Rajapaksa. [135][136] Rajapaksa also changed his stance on private medical universities such as the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM); during his rule, SAITM was accepted with several concessions from the Board of Investment, and at the request of Rajapaksa, SAITM gave scholarships to students who gained 3As in advanced-level exams. A sudden and draconian ban on the importation of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in 2021 resulted in a food shortage, exacerbating the challenges brought on by a global bottleneck in supply chains. [91], However, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party withdrew from the UPFA government on 18 November 2014, citing Rajapaksa's refusal to reform the executive presidency and enact reforms to promote accountability. His absence from the public domain for years led to various theories about his possible whereabouts. [129] In February, India announced that it would assist the Sri Lankan government in tracing billions of dollars that were allegedly deposited into overseas bank accounts belonging to Rajapaksa and associates. Foreign Ministry Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colambage said he had not seen the complaint, and given its sensitive nature was unable to comment without ascertaining the view of the political leadership. He was later appointed Minister of Economic Development. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Human Rights Committee is a group of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Media groups have alleged that media freedom was curtailed in Sri Lanka during Rajapaksa's terms as president. After completing his schooling at Richmond School, Nalanda College, and Thurstan College, Mahinda enrolled at the Colombo Law College (now known as Sri Lanka Law College), where he earned a bachelors degree in law in 1974. Mahinda Rajapaksa belongs to a Sri Lankan Sinhalese family. Mahinda was made party leader the same day, setting him up as a contender for the office of prime minister. Seit Wochen kmpft Sri Lanka mit seiner schlimmsten Wirtschaftskrise seit der Unabhngigkeit des Inselstaates im Jahr 1948, wodurch Lebensmittel, Treibstoff, Benzin und Medikamente knapp werden und die Kosten fr Grundgter in die Hhe schieen. During the opening ceremony, protesters led by joint opposition MPs ignored a court order banning protests in the area and pelted stones at the event's participants, during which the Chinese envoy claimed that China will ignore "negative forces". $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting the Rajapaksa campaign, while two checks totalling $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees. All TV and radio stations are government-owned. Furthermore, the government stated that the deals would be suspended until the investigations were completed. The Attorney General said that he had refused to act on behalf of Rajapaksa. At least nine people died and over 200 were injured in clashes on May 9 after Mahinda, who was twice president and thrice prime minister, resigned. The move came just a day after the Supreme Court ruled that a referendum was not required to make the change. [171][172], In August 2018, Rajapaksa was questioned at his official residence in Colombo by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with the abduction and assault of journalist and former associate editor of The Nation Keith Noyahr in 2008. President Percy Mahendra (aka "Mahinda") Rajapaksa. After a series of ill-advised and inflammatory speeches, these men headed towards Galle Face attacking and demolishing a protest in front of Temple Trees first. In the courtyard was a banner of similar size showing golden rice fields and Rajapaksa's smiling face at its centre. [14] His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, had succeeded his brother D. M. Rajapaksa's seat in the State Council of Ceylon following the latter's death in May 1945. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, is the head of the clan. [14], After Sri Lanka's 2004 parliamentary elections, in which the United People's Freedom Alliance gained a slim majority, Rajapaksa became the new Prime Minister. Fonseka then joined the opposition as the candidate against Rajapaksa in the 2010 Presidential election, which Rajapaksa won. WebIn the weeks leading up to his death, Lasantha was so concerned that he would be assassinated that he wrote an editorial to be released in the event of his death, stating: The leader. The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha [132] The government asserted that they had traced only $2 billion and were seeking access to a bank account that was held by the Rajapaksa family; Minister Samaraweera stated that it would not be an easy task to retrieve the assets held by the Rajapaksa family abroad, and was willing to go after those belonging to the state. But his departure did nothing to ease the growing pressure on his During a wedding, which Rajapaksa attended as a VIP guest, he lost a gem-studded ring. [159] On 10 May 2022, Rajapaksa and his family members fled to Trincomalee Navy-based for security reasons. Forgetting the baby was in his hands his hands have automatically been moved in search for the collapsed cloth. The gesture, described by the Indian High Commission here as humanitarian, ended three weeks of uncertainty over their fate, after the Colombo High Court sentenced them to death on October 30. In addition, relations with Western countries were strained over Sri Lankas refusal to allow independent investigations of the militarys treatment of Tamils at the end of the civil war in 2009. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, is the head of the clan. Dozens of nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws have also been appointed as heads of banks, boards, and corporations. Rajapaksa appointed another brother, Basil Rajapaksa, as minister of Economic Development. [117] Rajapaksa subsequently accepted defeat and left the Temple Trees, the official residence of president, with the control of the government peacefully transferring to Maithripala Sirisena. This makes the rankings somewhat suspect. South Asia News: COLOMBO: Mahinda Rajapaksa, the wily 76-year-old patriarch of the powerful Rajapaksa clan, was once known as Sri Lanka's man for all seasons, but the . [131], The Sri Lanka Air Force announced that Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family had used military aircraft for the Presidential election campaign, using $17,300 (Rs. [7], On the 9 May 2022, Rajapaksa loyalists were transported to his residence on buses who were then addressed by Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan Parliament passed two no-confidence motions brought against Rajapaksa on 14 and 16 November 2018. [149][150] Their firm grip of power was consolidated in parliamentary elections in August 2020. [133], In 2016, Rajapaksa loyalists created the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party in an attempt to split with the SLFP. [199], Mahinda Rajapaksa is superstitious; he wears talismans and consults astrologers in his decision-making. Minister Samaraweera didn't mention the names of the countries that were involved in this investigation. Updates? Rajapaksa was born into a large upper-caste family and was brought up as a Buddhist. [47], Rajapaksa and his government have denied all allegations of war crimes.
Rajapaksas second term oversaw sustained economic growth, and he continued to enjoy the strong support of the large Sinhalese majority in the country. After covertly searching under carpets and in washrooms, hotel staff found the ring on the floor near the VIP table. Although the UPFA failed to secure the two-thirds majority necessary to amend the constitution, in September an amendment was approved by Parliament, with the support of some opposition members, that removed limits on the number of terms a president could serve, granted judicial immunity to the president, and gave the president broader powers in making governmental appointments. The lamentation of this country's innocents should be raised anywhere. [95][96][97], Rajapaksa released his manifesto, titled Mahinda's Vision The World Winning Path, on 23 December 2014 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. 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Podujana Peramuna party in an attempt to split with the SLFP firm grip of power was consolidated in parliamentary in. 'S terms as president accused Rajapaksa of being narcissistic following a cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was to... [211] Thus, critics have accused Rajapaksa of being narcissistic. Mahinda was once Sri Lanka has been thrown into political disarray since late October, when President Maithripala Sirisena ousted his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with Mr. Rajapaksa, a decision that was deemed unconstitutional. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned as prime minister on Monday amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in [68][92][93][94] After much hesitation, the All Ceylon Muslim Congress and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also withdrew from the UPFA government, on 22 and 28 December 2014 respectively, blaming the government's failure to protect Sri Lankan Muslims from Sinhalese Buddhist extremists. 7 million scholarships by Rajapaksa himself. Though I was devastated by her death, I recalled her wish to donate organs and decided to act according to her wishes, he said. However, due to the brothers economic policies, that image failed to be sustained. On 3 May 2022, a motion of no confidence aimed at Rajapaksa and his cabinet was declared by opposition leaders. The government also claimed that the Rajapaksa family siphoned the money away from Sri Lanka with the help of the governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lankan (CBSL), who was a close associate of the family. Talking about it, Rajitha Senarathne, the cabinets spokesperson, said The complaint requests that the Human Rights Committee ensure that Sri Lanka conducts an independent investigation, prosecutes those responsible, and apologizes to and compensates the Wickrematunge family. However, in 2017 he claimed that "there needs to be a standard. The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was allegedly killed by a military-linked hit squad while driving to work on Jan. 8, 2009. The loyalists were then armed with iron bars and assaulted unarmed protesters near Temple Trees and destroyed MynaGoGama. The eldest son, who was about 20 years old in 2005, graduated from St. Thomas, a prestigious private Christian school in a Colombo suburb and was Five people have died, including a ruling party MP, and more than 190 injured in violence in the capital. Corrections? His younger sister, Jayanthi Rajapaksa, is a former member of the Nationwide protests broke out in March and continued in the weeks ahead. In the mid-fifties, the Rajapaksa family moved to Colombo and Mahinda Rajapaksa was admitted to Nalanda College, Colombo. After losing the seat in 1977, he focused on his law career until reentering Parliament in 1989, this time representing the Hambantota district (19892005). He held this post until 1997 when, following a cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was changed to Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. [14] His mother Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake was from Palatuwa, Matara. Though his second term officially was to end in November 2016, he could legally seek re-election after completing four years in office, a marker he passed on 19 November. The first anniversary of the first protest near Rajapaksas residence at Mirihana, Nugegoda was on March 31. It was around this time last year that the aragalaya or protest campaign against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa began. [27], Immediately following his election victory, a series of mine blasts blamed on the LTTE claimed the lives of many off-duty servicemen and civilians, pushing the country back to the brink of civil war. [174] Noyahr was abducted and severely assaulted before being released in May 2008, after which he fled to Australia with his family, fearing for his life. At the age of six, he was sent to his father's school Richmond College in Galle. Rajapaksa was born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, in Weeraketiya, in the rural southern district of Hambantota to an established political family. Mahinda sought to capitalize on that image to increase the SLPPs number of parliamentary seats in the legislative elections scheduled for August 5twice delayed because of the pandemicwith the purpose of enabling the party and its allies to amend the constitution and expand the powers of the presidency. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) A daughter of a slain Sri Lankan journalist filed a complaint Friday with the United Nations Human Rights Committee over alleged government involvement in her fathers death 12 years ago. [108], In June 2018, The New York Times reported that President Rajapaksa, during the 2015 presidential campaign and elections, received large payments from a Chinese port construction fund that flowed directly to campaign aides and activities. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, had succeeded his brother D. M. Rajapaksa's seat in the State Council of Ceylon following the latter's death in May 1945. Furthermore, the cessation of aid to the tsunami-damaged LTTE-occupied areas, and the sidelining of the Norwegian facilitators due to their alleged bias were included. [147], On 18 December 2018, the Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, announced that Mahinda Rajapaksa had been appointed as Leader of the Opposition, with the UPFA joining the opposition benches in Parliament. [26], The agreement made with Rajapaksa included provisions that called for a revision of the ceasefire agreement to give the military broader powers against the LTTE, as well as ruling out any devolution of power to the Tamil people. Rajapaksas popularity surged, but international observers criticized his armys brutality in the wars final battle, which had led to many civilian deaths. Initially, he and his elder brother were boarded with a family in Galle, later their mother rented a house in Galle called the 'Singapore House' and moved there to facilitate the education of the growing family. However, Rajapaksa has accused the PRECIFAC of being unconstitutional, and Rajapaksa's lawyers objected to its composition. The daughter of the slain journalist filed a complaint Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, with the United Nations Human Rights Committee over alleged government involvement in her fathers death 12 years ago. Ten students were given each given Rs. [86] On nomination day, 8 December 2014, two opposition MPs, Tissa Attanayake and Jayantha Ketagoda, defected to the government to support Rajapaksa. [135][136] Rajapaksa also changed his stance on private medical universities such as the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM); during his rule, SAITM was accepted with several concessions from the Board of Investment, and at the request of Rajapaksa, SAITM gave scholarships to students who gained 3As in advanced-level exams. A sudden and draconian ban on the importation of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in 2021 resulted in a food shortage, exacerbating the challenges brought on by a global bottleneck in supply chains. [91], However, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party withdrew from the UPFA government on 18 November 2014, citing Rajapaksa's refusal to reform the executive presidency and enact reforms to promote accountability. His absence from the public domain for years led to various theories about his possible whereabouts. [129] In February, India announced that it would assist the Sri Lankan government in tracing billions of dollars that were allegedly deposited into overseas bank accounts belonging to Rajapaksa and associates. Foreign Ministry Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colambage said he had not seen the complaint, and given its sensitive nature was unable to comment without ascertaining the view of the political leadership. He was later appointed Minister of Economic Development. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Human Rights Committee is a group of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Media groups have alleged that media freedom was curtailed in Sri Lanka during Rajapaksa's terms as president. After completing his schooling at Richmond School, Nalanda College, and Thurstan College, Mahinda enrolled at the Colombo Law College (now known as Sri Lanka Law College), where he earned a bachelors degree in law in 1974. Mahinda Rajapaksa belongs to a Sri Lankan Sinhalese family. Mahinda was made party leader the same day, setting him up as a contender for the office of prime minister. Seit Wochen kmpft Sri Lanka mit seiner schlimmsten Wirtschaftskrise seit der Unabhngigkeit des Inselstaates im Jahr 1948, wodurch Lebensmittel, Treibstoff, Benzin und Medikamente knapp werden und die Kosten fr Grundgter in die Hhe schieen. During the opening ceremony, protesters led by joint opposition MPs ignored a court order banning protests in the area and pelted stones at the event's participants, during which the Chinese envoy claimed that China will ignore "negative forces". $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting the Rajapaksa campaign, while two checks totalling $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees. All TV and radio stations are government-owned. Furthermore, the government stated that the deals would be suspended until the investigations were completed. The Attorney General said that he had refused to act on behalf of Rajapaksa. At least nine people died and over 200 were injured in clashes on May 9 after Mahinda, who was twice president and thrice prime minister, resigned. The move came just a day after the Supreme Court ruled that a referendum was not required to make the change. [171][172], In August 2018, Rajapaksa was questioned at his official residence in Colombo by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with the abduction and assault of journalist and former associate editor of The Nation Keith Noyahr in 2008. President Percy Mahendra (aka "Mahinda") Rajapaksa. After a series of ill-advised and inflammatory speeches, these men headed towards Galle Face attacking and demolishing a protest in front of Temple Trees first. In the courtyard was a banner of similar size showing golden rice fields and Rajapaksa's smiling face at its centre. [14] His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, had succeeded his brother D. M. Rajapaksa's seat in the State Council of Ceylon following the latter's death in May 1945. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, is the head of the clan. [14], After Sri Lanka's 2004 parliamentary elections, in which the United People's Freedom Alliance gained a slim majority, Rajapaksa became the new Prime Minister. Fonseka then joined the opposition as the candidate against Rajapaksa in the 2010 Presidential election, which Rajapaksa won. WebIn the weeks leading up to his death, Lasantha was so concerned that he would be assassinated that he wrote an editorial to be released in the event of his death, stating: The leader. The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha [132] The government asserted that they had traced only $2 billion and were seeking access to a bank account that was held by the Rajapaksa family; Minister Samaraweera stated that it would not be an easy task to retrieve the assets held by the Rajapaksa family abroad, and was willing to go after those belonging to the state. But his departure did nothing to ease the growing pressure on his During a wedding, which Rajapaksa attended as a VIP guest, he lost a gem-studded ring. [159] On 10 May 2022, Rajapaksa and his family members fled to Trincomalee Navy-based for security reasons. Forgetting the baby was in his hands his hands have automatically been moved in search for the collapsed cloth. The gesture, described by the Indian High Commission here as humanitarian, ended three weeks of uncertainty over their fate, after the Colombo High Court sentenced them to death on October 30. In addition, relations with Western countries were strained over Sri Lankas refusal to allow independent investigations of the militarys treatment of Tamils at the end of the civil war in 2009. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, is the head of the clan. Dozens of nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws have also been appointed as heads of banks, boards, and corporations. Rajapaksa appointed another brother, Basil Rajapaksa, as minister of Economic Development. [117] Rajapaksa subsequently accepted defeat and left the Temple Trees, the official residence of president, with the control of the government peacefully transferring to Maithripala Sirisena. This makes the rankings somewhat suspect. South Asia News: COLOMBO: Mahinda Rajapaksa, the wily 76-year-old patriarch of the powerful Rajapaksa clan, was once known as Sri Lanka's man for all seasons, but the . [131], The Sri Lanka Air Force announced that Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family had used military aircraft for the Presidential election campaign, using $17,300 (Rs. [7], On the 9 May 2022, Rajapaksa loyalists were transported to his residence on buses who were then addressed by Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan Parliament passed two no-confidence motions brought against Rajapaksa on 14 and 16 November 2018. [149][150] Their firm grip of power was consolidated in parliamentary elections in August 2020. [133], In 2016, Rajapaksa loyalists created the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party in an attempt to split with the SLFP. [199], Mahinda Rajapaksa is superstitious; he wears talismans and consults astrologers in his decision-making. Minister Samaraweera didn't mention the names of the countries that were involved in this investigation. Updates? Rajapaksa was born into a large upper-caste family and was brought up as a Buddhist. [47], Rajapaksa and his government have denied all allegations of war crimes.