Sri Lanka’s embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa lashed out at “various local, foreign groups and individuals” earlier today, as he accused them of “trying to use the economic and political crisis as a pretext to influence national security”.
In a statement released to mark what the accused war criminal labelled ‘National War Heroes’ Day’, Rajapaksa said “there is no doubt” that foreign groups were attempting to “influence national security”.
“We must defeat it together,” he continued. “Only then will the courageous war hero’s commitment to the country be preserved.”
Rajapaksa also claimed that the 2009 Sri Lanka military offensive that slaughtered tens of thousands of Tamils was a “humanitarian operation”.
“There was no hatred, anger or revenge in it,” he continued. “Therefore, there is no room for racism or any other form of extremism in the motherland where peace was established.”
Rajapaksa stands accused of genocide, having held the post of defence secretary in 2009. He repeatedly denied claims of civilian casualties and even defended the bombing of hospitals contrary to international law.
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