Govt. to engage with UNHRC

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that Sri Lanka was not a party to the Rome Statute and therefore all matters should be determined by domestic jurisdiction but that the new Government would engage with the UN Human Rights Council and the concerned members in a positive manner so that an understanding could be reached on outstanding issues on human rights.


The Prime Minister expressed these views at a conference of Asia’s Attorneys General held at the BMICH to mark the 130th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Attorney General’s Department.


President Mathripala Sirisena was the Chief Guest while Attorney General Y.J.W. Vijayatilake presided over the inaugural session which was attended by Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Senior Supreme Court Judge K. Sripavan and Solicitor General Bimba Tillekeratne.
The following is the statement made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe:


 “I know the pressure under which the Attorney General’s Department functions. But somehow the rule of law is upheld. It has not been tampered with completely. Let the people of Sri Lanka get the democratic systems back.  We have already drafted the 19th Amendment to for the restoration of the Independent Commissions and the power of the judiciary. We are in the process of bringing to Parliament the Witness Protection Bill, the Right to Information Bill and the National Audit Bill. The Minister of Justice is entrusted with this task. It is just the beginning of good governance, the Parliamentary Committees, the establishment of the Public Finance Committee and the enforcing of parliamentary control over the executive.
“The basic concept of the rule of law is damaged and the rule of law was set aside during the war.   Even after the war, it continued.  We must ensure the principle of the rule of law. When terrorism is ended, the rule of law must be restored. The law can’t be silent even after the war.
“The Army Commander who defeated the LTTE was brought to Court overnight as a traitor. Then the Chief Justice was removed from her post.  There are many other instances of people being victimised.


“Somehow the rule of law was upheld. Sri Lankans want the democratic systems back. The President and the Government will implement the 19th Amendment and restore the independent commissions.


“It is very important to ensure that Sri Lanka upholds the rule of law in Asia.  We will also ensure the sectional protocol of the ICC. People believe that the rule of law has been tampered with.  The rule of law also is in danger of disappearing.  We have to ensure that the rule of law which is the oldest legal system has to be restored.” the Prime Minister said. (S.S. Selvanayagam)












Pix by Kithsiri de Mel