SL Reiterates Rejection of External Intervention on HR Agenda

• Pins hope in domestic mechanism  
• Sheds positive light on economic recovery   

By Kelum Bandara 

Ahead of the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) session next month, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, in his briefing to the diplomatic community, reiterated that Sri Lanka would not agree to any external mechanism to deal with human rights issues and reconciliation process, but count on the domestic mechanism to yield in this regard.  

The OHCHR (Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights) is due to produce a written update at the next sessions to be started in September and concluded on October 13.  
In its resolution 46/1 on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”, adopted on March 23, 2021, the Human Rights Council recognized “the importance of preserving and analysing evidence relating to violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes in Sri Lanka with a view to advancing accountability”, and decided to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction”.  

In October 2022, through resolution 51/1, paragraph 8, the Human Rights Council decided to extend and reinforce the capacity of OHCHR in this regard.  
Minister Sabry told Daily Mirror that he outlined the measures taken by Sri Lanka through the Office of Missing Persons and other bodies to bring about reconciliation. He also briefed the Colombo-based foreign envoys on the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the progress on the evolution of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, a key demand of the countries that backed the latest resolution.  

“External mechanism is not helpful,” he said.  

Besides, he elaborated on steps being taken to economic recovery and to restructure external debts. Referring to indicators, he said the economy is now emerging from the abyss to be on a growth trajectory very soon. The minister requested the foreign envoys to encourage investments and tourism in Sri Lanka.