In an opinion published Wednesday, acclaimed journalist J. S. Tissainayagam argued:

"If Cameron and other Commonwealth leaders are serious about making Sri Lanka accountable for war crimes and on-going human rights abuses they have to go beyond using clever terms like ‘engagement’ that actually do little. Enormous evidence of violations of the laws of war and human rights has been accumulated with painstaking care by the media – especially Channel Four and Frances Harrison for the BBC. This evidence has not been denied by the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

 

"What is left for Cameron is not to pose for photo ops with Rajapakse or warn him that “if Sri Lanka doesn’t deliver on an independent investigation, the world will need to ensure an international investigation is carried out instead.” Rather, it is to bring Sri Lanka and its leaders to justice ... by hastening an independent international inquiry and enforcing international law on war crimes, torture and rape."

Tissainayagam, a veteran newspaper editor in Sri Lanka, was arrested in 2007 by the government and jailed in 2009 for his criticism of wartime abuses. He was released in 2010 following intense international pressure. He now resides in the United States.

Whilst being imprisoned, Tissainayagam was named the first winner of the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism, and, along with an Iranian journalist, was singled out by President Obama in his address on World Press Freedom Day.