SL slams UK report

1 May 2012 09:11 am - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday slammed a British human rights report which listed the island among countries of concern over human rights issues.

Deputy External Affairs Minister Neomal Perera said that Britain had no right to accuse Sri Lanka of not doing enough to address accountability of the war just three years after the conflict ended.

The Human Rights Report for 2011 released by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Monday said that significant progress was still needed in Sri Lanka to address the institutional weaknesses that allow for frequent human rights violations.

The report also called on the Sri Lankan government to implement recommendations of a local war commission and address outstanding questions regarding accountability for alleged war crimes.

"How can they say we have not done enough? On what basis are they saying that? The Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) handed over its final report only in December last year so how can the UK report say we did not do enough to address the issues mentioned. We have started addressing them now and some of the recommendations of the LLRC are also being implemented," Neomal Perera told Xinhua.

The British report also said UK will contribute to Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review under the UN human rights system in Geneva but Perera said Sri Lanka would have done a lot by then to address most of the human rights concerns.

"We are still in May and October is a long way ahead. They cannot prejudge us when we still have time in our hands and are already working on most of the issues," said Perera.

He also said that a visiting European Union Parliamentary delegation which met him on Monday expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved by Sri Lanka in addressing most issues.

"They did say there were still some issues but overall they were happy with the progress," he said.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 16

kaputakukula Tuesday, 01 May 2012 09:58 AM

"We still have time in our hands". Does it mean that we can sit over until the 11th hour and make headlines in the news papers to announce the world we are MOVING. LLRC released in December but completed a long time ago and was put in slumber.

ase Tuesday, 01 May 2012 09:47 AM

How can they say we have not done enough?
We havent done any thing, dep.min said. ha hoooooooo

Rohan Tuesday, 01 May 2012 09:50 AM

Britain think no end of themselves. They like to stir a bit because there are tamils who are behind them lobbying for this kind of thing. Liam Fox has a very good outlook on Sri Lanka and is very knowledgable on these issues and upto date. It is a shame that William Hague wants to pacify the tamils and the tamil diaspora. These people are thinking to the future and have the elections in mind so they must try to show they are doing their bit. We can say lots about human rights issues in UK and the wars they got engaged in.

GOPI Tuesday, 01 May 2012 10:34 AM

You still have time but International Community does not give you prolong time for you to drag it forever.

Citizen perera Tuesday, 01 May 2012 10:18 AM

You may fool sri lankans.... but you can't fool international community.

Guru Tuesday, 01 May 2012 10:22 AM

Yes, yes, truth hurts.

pxxrala Tuesday, 01 May 2012 10:10 AM

Pau ane meyala, babala wenna hadanawa

Nodrog Tuesday, 01 May 2012 10:34 AM

UK does not listen or heeds when positive comments are made about SL, some even from their own MPs. But they sure as hell prick up their ears when a negative comment is made regardless of whether its the truth or not

N K Ratnam Tuesday, 01 May 2012 10:43 AM

If you go by what has been done in the past 5 months there will be nothing to stop another damning report against this country coming out in October. The British report shows how closely they are watching what goes on in this country. They know what happened to Baratha and that nothing happened to those committed the crime. They know about white van abductions and people disappearing. You don't need the Tamils to tell the international community what is going on here. The rulers are doing a brilliant job in keeping the spotlight on the human rights abuses in this country.

gihan Tuesday, 01 May 2012 11:47 AM

Well said

raj Tuesday, 01 May 2012 05:27 PM

only ministers, and government MPs have human rights in Sri Lanka. Ordinary Sri Lankans are living with fear. As a result, they have lost the freedom of speech whcih is essential for human rights.

Saskia Tuesday, 01 May 2012 06:10 PM

@Gopi, very well said.

Automatic Tuesday, 01 May 2012 06:54 PM

Specially India has seen a lot. Their ships were close and they were observing carefully. We think others don't know what really happened? Then we should think again.

sally Wednesday, 02 May 2012 03:35 AM

Thank god at least some one is watching this country over, Please Help us.

Jayantha Wednesday, 02 May 2012 03:50 AM

If i was president. I would make sure that all HR is very well protected. Yet not a single breathing space to separatists & Racist. I wont give a damn about international community. Why cant we do it right now is because we depend too much on imports & exports to so called western countries. We have no proper contingency plan. No one knows the importance of having a supply chain world over. Be it Asia, South east asia. Middle east, Africa & other small countries & territories. Leave Europe & America. Hell with it. If we are self sustained we dont have to worry on anything like this. How many countries doing well without much about west & america.

RAJU Wednesday, 02 May 2012 08:25 AM

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

SL slams UK report

Comments - 16

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

April 15 declared a government holiday

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Wild elephants pull down 16 telephone poles

Middleman arrested for price gouging at Kalutara eatery

Bondholders’ agreement delay won’t hinder IMF third tranche payout: Dr. Coomaraswamy

Party leaders to shoot down MPs request for concessionary duty free vehicle permits

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings