Thursday, 2 April 2015 00:00
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For Sri Lanka, engagement on all levels is key as it attempts to burnish its international reputation and improve economic fortunes.
Haoliang Xu, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Chair, United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next week. His visit is likely to be important as the Government looks to improve its track on dealing with key human rights issues.
During the visit, which will be his second to the island, Xu is expected to meet and exchange views with high-level Government officials, development partners and civil society on learning more about the emerging development needs and expectations of Sri Lanka in a new political environment while ascertaining the future direction of UNDP support along with other members of the UN family, in particular strengthening UNDP’s role as a key development partner in Sri Lanka.
Xu will also engage in a policy dialogue with eminent civil society representatives on Sri Lanka’s development outlook. Promises made by Colombo are under the eagle eye of the international community to make certain that pledged steps towards reconciliation will be implemented. Having had its patience worn thin over the years due to the feet-dragging of the previous administration, the international community will be looking for swift action and will possibly back tougher consequences if promises are unfulfilled.
This was never more evident than in the statement made by the UNHRC. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has said “I give my personal, absolute and unshakeable commitment that the report will be published by September” and that he had received a clear commitment from the new Sri Lankan authorities to cooperate on various issues related to the UN investigation. This alone shows the high stakes game in which Sri Lanka is engaged.
Xu may not necessarily be a key player but positive impressions on all fronts will likely assist Sri Lanka. Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of this report will be its impact on regaining GSP+ as it will give a scorecard of sorts on where Sri Lanka stands on 27 UN Conventions that will be critical when the EU evaluates the country’s latest application to get the preferential tariff concessions. Early indications are that the Government will attempt to make overtures in January 2016.
The Government will also have to push forward on human rights issues unconnected to reconciliation but still focused on by the UNHRC. One such instance was the Welikada Prison riot in 2012, on which the Government has appointed a new probe and assured that a report will be published.
Sustainable development, which is a cornerstone of the UNDP, will also be crucial to Sri Lanka as it attempts to continue significant growth without the high indebtedness that characterised the previous years. For that it will have to obtain expertise and follow best practices that can be readily supplied by the UN agencies.
As the world continues to watch the ground situation, engagement with all levels of the UN is just another milestone in a long road towards reconciliation.
