Sri Lanka stymied investigation
[ SMH ] - [ Mar 31, 2010 2:13:51 GMT ]THE Sri Lankan government sought to influence an Australian police investigation and prosecution of three Australian citizens charged with terrorism offences in 2007 for their support of the Tamil Tigers. The Sri Lankan Deputy Solicitor-General, Yasantha Kodagoda, exercised extensive control over aspects of the Sri Lankan arm of the federal police investigation, including demands that he advise local witnesses and be present when they testified. Mr Kodagoda told Australian officials he would tell the witnesses not to testify unless he was able to advise them, and asked to review Sri Lankan witness statements before they were finalised. [ full story ]