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Defence Sec., predecessor scoff at use of cluster bombs claim
View(s):Defence Secretary Karunasena Kodituwakku dismissed claims that Sri Lanka’s Air Force (SLAF) had used cluster bombs during the penultimate stages of the separatist war with the Tiger guerrillas.
“This type of unfounded allegations surface every time the UN Human Rights Council is in session,” he told the Sunday Times.
Intelligence sources said guerilla groups in Europe were behind the mischievous campaign to mislead member countries of the Human Rights Council. “They have been repeating this canard every year,” an intelligence source said.
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa also expressed a similar view. “During my period in office we did not purchase cluster bombs. I am sure during my period we did not use cluster bombs,” he told the Sunday Times.
“Also releasing a few photographs cannot be considered as evidence. There should be other evidence to support the claim. The allegation is probably being raised before the UN Human Rights Council meeting,” he said.