The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has strongly condemned the abduction and murder of two Sri Lanka Red Cross staff members in the capital Colombo on 1 June. Sinnarasa Shanmugalingam (32) and Karthekesu Chandramohan (26) had worked for the Batticaloa branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross, in the east of the country for many years. They had been in
Colombo attending a training workshop organised by the Sri Lanka Red Cross national headquarters.We are shocked by these brutal murders and wish to convey our sincere condolences to the family
members and colleagues of the dead.Neville Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka Red Cross director generalAt about 6.45pm on 1 June, they were abducted from Fort railway station in Colombo by
unknown men while waiting to return to Batticaloa. Their bodies were found the next day in Kiriella, Ratnapura district.Shock"We are shocked by these brutal murders and wish to
convey our sincere condolences to the family members and colleagues of the dead," said Sri Lanka Red Cross director general Neville Nanayakkara.The British Red Cross has expressed its sorrow
for the murders. The organisation has been carrying out post-tsunami recovery work in Batticaloa since 2005. It has also been helping thousands of people affected by renewed violence in the
area.
Razmi Farook, British Red Cross operations officer for Sri Lanka, said: "We are deeply saddened by this news. I have worked with many of the staff and volunteers at the Sri Lanka
Red Cross branch in Batticaloa and have been inspired by their passion and commitment to serving the tsunami and conflict affected members of their community, to work in what can often be very
difficult and unstable conditions."Investigation
The Movement is calling upon the Sri Lankan authorities to carry out an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the
killings. It has reminded the parties to the conflict that murder is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and that they must respect the work of humanitarian agencies and refrain from any
acts that might jeopardise humanitarian staff or activities. It also urges them to take all necessary measures to ensure that aid workers assisting the civilian population and persons not or
no longer taking part in the hostilities are spared from attack and can move freely and safely. The Movement will carry on with its conflict-related and post-tsunami work in Sri
Lanka.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
