Peel Police chief Neeshan Duraiappah has faced some criticism online after appearing in a photo with the Sri Lanka Police's chief, Deshabandu Tennakoon. Tennakoon has been accused of directly overseeing incidents of torture in 2010; Duraiappah appearing in his Peel Regional Police uniform alongside Tennakoon has variously been criticised as tone deaf, problematic, and as an insult to Tamils.
The two main sticking points around the trip are whether or not Duraiappah was there in any official capacity as a police chief, and whether or not he was aware of the allegations against Tennakoon. Peel Police and the RCMP confirmed that Duraiappah was there on a personal trip, while the Tamil Guardian has reported that he was informed about Tannakoon’s past actions before the meeting was arranged.
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On the more extreme end, the criticism levelled at Duraiappah has accused him of betraying fellow Tamils. It is unclear if any of Tennakoon’s allegations date to the war period; however, on one hand, the image of a Tamil police chief posing with a Sinhala counterpart found guilty of crimes against civilians is sure to evoke strong feelings from many. As many of you are probably aware, May 18 is Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. During a time when many Tamils around the world are commemorating those who died in the last days of the war, the picture is undeniably going to offend.
Much of the criticism levelled against the photo has centred around this idea that it is disrespectful to the victims of Tennakoon’s alleged actions and the actions of the Sri Lankan state as a whole. On the other hand, there could very well be an argument made that it is time to stop fueling the idea that Tamils and Sinhalese belong on opposite ends of a conflict, and move towards healing these divisions rather than perpetuating them. Whether this harmonious perspective should apply to individuals actually proven to have committed human rights violations is clearly very subjective.
More muted criticism of Duraiappah on social media has taken the angle that the photo simply looks bad. It could be argued that whether or not he was aware of Tennakoon’s background, it is highly likely that a senior police commander who served during the civil war has a less-than-ideal record on human rights, especially given the well-documented abuses linked to Sri Lankan law enforcement well into 2023. The Peel Police uniform standing alongside the Sri Lanka Police may not be a great look. Those defending Duraiappah, however, point to his many years of good police work and public service, and argue that while this incident may have been a misstep, it doesn’t warrant any more critique.
While some see his actions as problematic, others argue for understanding and context. Some have called for an apology to be made, while others have stated the whole incident is being taken out of proportion. In light of these differing perspectives, the incident involving Duraiappah highlights the complexity of international relations and personal accountability as a public figure.
