Ranil briefs Parliament on SL action on UNHRC

• Reiterates neither hybrid or foreign system but credible local mechanism governed by Parliament is way forward

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent

Detailed plans to counter the report from the investigation on Sri Lanka by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights were tabled yesterday at Parliament.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Ranil Wickremesinghe issuing a statement assured the nation that neither hybrid nor foreign methodologies would be involved in this process. 

“The Government’s aim is to establish an independent, trustworthy, and enforcing local mechanism to investigate, maintain justice and equity, and to compensate, making sure that such unpleasant incidents will never happen again,” he said.

According to Wickremesinghe, there will be two mechanisms – establishing of a South Africa-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission and getting the services of the International Red Cross, both of which will be governed by Parliament. 

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be established with the advice from the competent South African Government. The commission will include a board represented by religious leaders and commissioners. The commission will help all regardless of the seriousness or the status of the issue the victims have faced. The International Red Cross will assist the families of missing persons. 

“We are also looking at establishing a special Judiciary through Parliament. This will address the issue of getting away with human right violations. It will help to establish rule of law and especially to stop human right violations. The compensation process will be channelled through a separate office, which will also be established through Parliament. This office will make sure violations will not happen again and to compensate the victims and their families,” he added.

Wickremesinghe also highlighted the importance of Constitutional reforms, which will prevent or work against abductions, torture, and the forceful disappearances. In parallel the Government is also looking at amending the Penal Code. 

“We believe these new laws will ensure the future and a peaceful Sri Lanka that will never have to face such issues. The United States and the other nations are working toward presenting us a favourable proposal in the days to come. I will inform Parliament of details of this proposal on the next sitting date,” added Prime Mister.

Wickremesinghe identified himself as one of the lucky politicians to be alive, having faced the terrorist threats. 

“All these issues started in 1977 with the limited recognition of the Tamil language and limited higher education opportunities. Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan is one of those who got elected to Parliament in 1977. Terrorism spread with the unfortunate 1983 July communal riots. Many of our political leaders were killed and a few were lucky to be alive. The LTTE killed the Tamil leadership as well. We shouldn’t allow such atrocities to happen again. We are not willing to make the same mistakes again. We need to enter into agreement and solve these issues. That is the best gift we can give the future generations of this country,” added Wickremesinghe.