The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Nadarajah Raviraj, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka who was assassinated on 10 November 2006, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/186/12(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 185th session (October 2009); referring also to the report on the on-site mission to Sri Lanka carried out by the Committee in February 2008 (CL/183/12(b)-R.2),

Taking into account the police report forwarded by the Parliament of Sri Lanka on 18 March 2010,

Recalling that Mr. Raviraj, a member of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), was shot dead in Colombo in the morning of 10 November 2006 along with his security officer while travelling in his vehicle along a main road in Colombo; the gunman escaped on a motorcycle,

Recalling the following information provided by the authorities about the investigation into the murder: investigations revealed that the motorcycle was sold by two brokers named Nalaka Matagaweere and Ravindra to one Arul, who at the time was living at S.K.T. Jayasuriya's house; the latter was taken into custody together with Nalaka; Jayasuriya revealed that Arul was a former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) member; Nalaka and Jayasuriya were later released on bail as inquiries revealed that they were not in Colombo when Mr. Raviraj was shot dead; arrest warrants were issued for Arul and Ravindra, who, according to the police progress report forwarded in April 2009, were strongly suspected of having gone to the areas then controlled by the LTTE,

Recalling further that a team from Scotland Yard arrived in Sri Lanka on 4 January 2007, that it conducted investigations and recommended that further tests be carried out; noting that, according to the police report of March 2010, no real breakthrough was possible and investigations are continuing; the case is due to be called on 26 May 2010 before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court,

Bearing in mind that, since the defeat of the LTTE, President Rajapakse was re-elected in January 2010; that he dissolved parliament on 28 March 2010 and announced elections for 8 April and the convening of the new parliament for 22 April 2010,

1. Thanks the parliamentary authorities and the police for the progress report on the investigation;

2. Deeply regrets that, instead of advancing now that the entire country is under the control of the Government of Sri Lanka, the investigation has remained at a standstill;

3. Reiterates its wish to ascertain whether the tests recommended by Scotland Yard were indeed conducted and whether Scotland Yard's assistance might again be sought with a view to assisting the investigative authorities; also reiterates its wish to know whether the investigative authorities have ever taken account of the information and evidence gathered by non-governmental organizations, in particular University Teachers for Human Rights, regarding the murder of Mr. Raviraj;

4. Reaffirms that there can be no better deterrent for violence targeting members of parliament, and indeed the public at large, than combating impunity and ensuring that those responsible for assassinations and other crimes are identified, apprehended and brought to justice, and urges the authorities once again to take firm action to this end;

5. Earnestly hopes that the new parliament will monitor the investigation into the murder of Mr. Raviraja and of his security officer;

6. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the new parliamentary authorities and to the competent governmental authorities, inviting them to provide the requested information and to keep it informed of the proceedings;

7. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 123rd IPU Assembly (October 2010).

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