SL HR report to be tabled in Aussie Parliament

3 October 2022 10:05 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A group of New South Wales (NSW) Parliamentarians have assured the Sri Lankan expatriates living in Sydney that they will table Sri Lanka’s Human Rights violation report at their next parliament session.

Members of the Legislative Council Peter Primrose and Anthony D Adams together with the Member of NSW Parliament, Jamie Parker met the Sri Lankan group led by Jagath Bandara on Wednesday, September 21 at the McKell room in NSW Parliament House.

Bandara told the Daily Mirror that their request to the NSW Parliament representatives on the brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in Sri Lanka by the Police and the security forces has led to a rapid increase in Human Rights violations, to which a positive response was received from the NSW Parliamentarians.

“Jamie Parker assured us that the reports we submitted on HR Violations in Sri Lanka will be tabled at the next parliamentary session and the messages will also be informed to their respective parties. He also said that the Sri Lankan ground situation will be informed to the Australian Government for necessary action in order to prevent the country’s deteriorating situation further. They are very concerned about the ongoing situation in Sri Lanka,” Bandara said.

According to Bandara, the Sri Lankan expatriates will be meeting Federal Members of the Australian Federal Parliament soon to discuss how Sri Lankan forces are harassing protestors by detaining them for months under the guise of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations.

“Earlier we were to meet the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Federal Parliament on September 15, but with the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the meeting was postponed. Hopefully, we will be meeting them in early October,” added Bandara.

According to Bandara, their discussion with the NSW Parliamentarians was mainly focused on harassment meted out against protestors, activists and their unlawful detention under the draconian PTA and Emergency Regulations.

“The situation in our motherland is disturbing us. We are lobbying for Australian Government to urge Sri Lanka to respect HR and expression of freedom to air the grievances faced by the people. We are concerned about the ongoing situation in the country. The protestors of these mass protests have so far not engaged in any unlawful activities but only against corrupt politicians and the skyrocketing cost of living that has resulted in malnutrition not only amongst children but also amongst elders. The Parliamentarians whom we met are well aware how the present regime is safeguarding the previous regime’s highly corrupt politicians,” Bandara claimed.

According to Bandara, by imposing Emergency Regulations, the government has given sweeping powers to the police and the security forces to arrest protestors and declare High-Security Zones to prevent the agitators from entering the city limits. “These laws cannot stop the peaceful protest, even though the government security forces continue in harassing and detaining the leaders for months. This is why as the Sri Lankan community in the NSW, we got together to urge the Australian Government to urge the Sri Lankan Government to stop harassing the protestors,” he added.

Bundara further said how they brought to the notice of the NSW Parliamentarians, the Sri Lankan Government has failed to take legal action against those who attacked the peaceful protestors at Galle Face Green on May 9 but taking legal action against the unarmed protestors.

“The Sri Lanka Government should investigate human rights violations committed by politicians and their supporters who were involved in attacking the Galle Face protestors. Also, investigations should be carried out against the security forces for unlawful arrests, excessive use of force on protesters and the brutal crackdown at the protest site at Galle Face in July. All pending charges against those arrested for exercising their rights peacefully should be released,” Bandara claimed. (Nirmala Kannangara in Sydney)

Comments - 13

Sunil Monday, 03 October 2022 10:36 AM

The entire democratic world should join hands not only in stopping these heinous abuses of human rights by our modern day idi amin, ranil and his military stooges, but also bringing them to justice for the crimes they have committed for many decades. I believed that the day is not far away when they will pay dearly for their horrendous activities.

S. Samarakoon Monday, 03 October 2022 11:48 AM

MR/GR/NR were the modern day Amins in every sense !! RW is a great Democrat and Royalist.. Disce Aut Dicede.

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 03 October 2022 12:02 PM

When these same harassments in a terrible worse manner happened to the Tamils in the north, these same Sinhalese were eating pittu in the night and cutting kiri bath in the morning. Now you don't want to say, Australian Govt is getting bribed by diaspora Sinhalese, right? Karma!!!

Ram Monday, 03 October 2022 01:54 PM

Human rights violations in Sri Lanka must be tabled before the Federal Government in Canberra and Australia must keep a check on any donation/ aid given as SL government cannot be trusted. What happened to the recent gift of rice is not known and I wonder if that was sold

Independent Monday, 03 October 2022 01:55 PM

Good news for the fake asylum seekers in Sydney and the political parties who depend on voters.

No to UNHRC Monday, 03 October 2022 02:16 PM

This is small scale. In middle east vast majority of our people actively looking for illegal methods for transferring their earning to Sri Lanka at highest exchange rates. They do know they are doing illegal to Sri Lanka, but see their money send to family as more important that Sri Lanka law. Middle east worker generally hate Sri Lanka government/Central Bank for trying to short change them on remittances.

Old fox is the greatest HR Offender Monday, 03 October 2022 03:24 PM

Not only SL HR reports must be tabled in the Australian but in all the democratic parliaments in the world enabling those countries to know the human rights situation in Srilanka.

sam Monday, 03 October 2022 03:58 PM

Other democratic countries should do similar and get the SL govt to follow the law and human rights

Aquarius Monday, 03 October 2022 04:14 PM

MR/GR/NR and RR (aka RW) are the modern-day Idi Amins. Reputed schools produced corrupt and deal makers too, who are responsible for the downfall of this beautiful country.

Reformist Monday, 03 October 2022 04:38 PM

May 9 was a long time ago when those innocent protesters were attacked. How many have been charged and prosecuted? Zilch!. Instead, the attackers have been given Ministerial posts. A guy asked for a bribe from a Japanese Co. What is the charge? A Ministerial post! What is RW's explanations on these? The wonder of Asia, begging around the world.

Kithsiri Senadeera Monday, 03 October 2022 05:06 PM

In my opinion, it should read as NOT ‘met the Sri Lankan group’ but ‘met a Sri Lankan group'

Thunde Monday, 03 October 2022 09:26 PM

MR/GR/NR were the modern day Amins in every sense !! RW is a great Democrat and Royalist.. Disce Aut Dicede. LOL, My ass, RW- Do the job or get out!!

S B Lokuge Tuesday, 04 October 2022 12:07 PM

This is like telling the thief's mother to catch the thief. What human rights do the first nation's people have in Australia? They are treated like shit.

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SL HR report to be tabled in Aussie Parliament

Comments - 13

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