US Secretary of State Antony Blinked paid tribute to Ranitha Gnanarajah this week, as he awarded her the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award for 2021 in a virtual ceremony.
Gnanarajah, a Tamil lawyer who has worked with the Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), was praised by Blinken as he spoke at the ceremony.
Dr Jill Biden, the US First Lady, also paid tribute to the women from around the world who received the award.
“Ranitha Gnanarajah is a lawyer who defends minority Muslin and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka, fights for justice for victims of enforced disappearances and prisoners detained for years without charge,” said Blinken.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz said she was “thrilled to introduce Ranitha Gnanarajah as a finalist”.
“She’s dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice, often at considerable personal risk. Some of her most impressive work involves advocacy for families of the disappeared and for prisoners arrested under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act who are often detained for years without charges,” she continued.
“Among her many accomplishments, I am most inspired by her leadership and advocacy for a victim-centred approach for inquiries into enforced disappearances stemming from Sri Lanka’s 30-year civil war.”
“Ms. Gnanarajah has helped the most vulnerable people avail themselves of their rights and in doing so is a model of courage in Sri Lanka and around the world. I’m proud to nominate her for the International Women of Courage award.”
See her remarks below.