• Sri Lanka considered it a basic duty of a government to ensure the uninterrupted supply of commodities essential to the lives of the people
• External initiatives embarked upon without the cooperation of the country concerned cannot achieve their stated goals

By Kelum Bandara

Sri Lanka is committed to achieving tangible progress on the entire range of issues relating to accountability, reconciliation, human rights, peace and sustainable development, Foreign Minister Prof.G.L. Peiris said in his statement to the UNHRC. 

He made the statement a day after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet gave her oral update, raising concerns over a number of issues in that regard in Sri Lanka .

She also raised concerns about the enforcement of a food emergency.

The Minister said under the current and pressing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka considered it a basic duty of a government to ensure the uninterrupted supply of commodities essential to the lives of the people.
The Minister also rejected the proposal for any external initiatives purportedly established by Resolution 46/1 while domestic processes  vigorously addressed the relevant matters. “This will polarize our society, as we experienced with Resolution 30/1. The Council must adhere to its founding principles. External initiatives embarked upon without the cooperation of the country concerned cannot achieve their stated goals, and will be subject to politicisation. The resources expended on this initiative are unwarranted, especially when they are urgently needed for humanitarian and other constructive purposes in many parts of the world,” he said.

He said,” Twelve years ago, Sri Lanka eradicated LTTE terrorism on its soil. We have restored peace, security and stability for the benefit of our people. We held firm to our democratic traditions and elections were held at regular intervals with high levels of voter participation – most recently at the 2019 Presidential and 2020 Parliamentary polls. The Government is committed to holding the Provincial Council elections at the earliest. We are dealing with post-conflict recovery from the perspective of healing. Most recently, 16 LTTE cadres convicted of serious terrorist crimes were granted Presidential pardons. The success of post-conflict demining, reconstruction and resettlement programmes have contributed immensely to national reconciliation."

"Despite the daily challenges of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, let me highlight the progress made in the domestic processes":

• The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) as its core function, is finalizing the list of missing persons in collaboration with other agencies.  The Office for Reparations (OR) has processed 3,775 claims this year.
• The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) continues its 8 point action plan.
• The National Human Rights Commission is carrying on its mandate.
• A steering committee on SDG 16 is working towards enhancing peace, justice and strong institutions.

A Cabinet Sub Committee was appointed to revisit the PTA and to bring it in line with international norms and best practices. A report will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers at the end of this month. An Advisory Board was appointed to look into cases of detention under the PTA and to make recommendations to deal with such cases expeditiously. Speedy disposal of cases under the PTA is also taking place