Criminal accused Iniyapaarathi conferred with 'Pride of the Nation' award in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 November 2011, 13:53 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka led by President Mahinda Rajapakse has conferred the national award “Desamanya” (country's pride or venerable by the country) to Iniyapaarathi, who is accused by the public for playing a key role in the abductions and disappearances of several people in Poththuvil, Akkaraippattu, Thirukkoayil and Vinaayakapuram in the Ampaa'rai district of Eastern Province and who has been accused of war crimes by the United Nations rights bodies for forced arms training to children. Iniyapaarathi is a lead operative of the paramilitary group led by Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan alias Karuna who currently holds a Deputy Minister post in the Rajapakse government. Iniyapaarathi is at present the Ampaa'rai District Coordinator for SL President Rajapaksa.

The title was awarded to the paramilitary operative at an event held in Thirukkoayil in Ampaa'rai district on 18, November, to coincide with the 66 birthday of Mahinda Rajapaksa. A foundation operating in the East organized the event and a representative of the foundation presented the award to Iniyapaarathy in the presence of the Officer-in-Charge of Thirukkoayil Police Station.

About ninety percent of affected families that gave evidence before Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) at its sittings in Ampaa'rai on March 26 this year alleged that Iniyapaarathi was responsible for the abductions and disappearances of their husbands, wives and children.

Iniyapaarathi is also accused of intimidating voters, issuing death threats and of election fraud during the last presidential election, parliamentary election and during the recently held local government election.

Kalmunai court has convicted Iniyapaarathi to ten years suspended jail term, when he was found guilty in some criminal cases.

Currently Iniyapaarathi is studying law in a private education institution in Colombo.