I urged SL Govt to take concrete steps towards Justice, Accountability - UK Minister

• Imperative for the Government to make progress on Human Rights, the rule of law, and good governance 
• It is for Sri Lanka to come forward with a clear plan for managing the economic challenges that it faces, including the debt situation  
• The UK is keen to share its expertise in off-shore wind power to enable Sri Lanka’s transition to greater use of renewable energy   

Lord Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, the Minister for Central and South Asia in the UK who arrived in Sri Lanka recently speaks to Daily Mirror in an exclusive interview about bilateral relations, the UNHRC process on Sri Lanka, the current economic challenges of Sri Lanka. During his stay in the country, he interacted with the leaders of the Government including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He also visited the north and the east to see projects being implemented with the assistance of his country. The UK leads the core group of countries that sponsored the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.   
Excerpts from the interview:   

 Q  How do you view your visit to Sri Lanka?

Of course, the United Kingdom (UK) is a strong and constructive partner of Sri Lanka. We are both members of the family of Commonwealth nations. One of the defining characteristics of our relationship is our people to people links –including the Diaspora. As Minister for South Asia, I had several priorities for the visit. I discussed the economic challenges facing Sri Lanka in all of my meetings with the Sri Lankan government, including with the President. We discussed follow up to the international climate change conference hosted by the UK (COP 26), and how we can further our cooperation on environmental protection and climate change. I raised Human Rights issues throughout my engagement with the Government and was pleased to see UK-funded peace-building projects in the North and East of the country, in action. The principles of reconciliation, justice and accountability, were a crucial part of my conversations with the Government and civil society during my three days in Sri Lanka. I also discussed support to the families of the missing from the conflict era.   
During my visit I announced continued UK funding of up to £3.7m in 2022/23 for programmes to support Sri Lanka to address legacies of conflict, promote Human Rights and build cohesion across all communities.  

"In the first instance, it is very much for Sri Lanka to come forward with a clear plan for managing the economic challenges that it faces, including the debt situation. That will enable the UK to assess more effectively the long term opportunities for commercial partnerships with Sri Lanka. There are current challenges, for example, the constraints on UK exports in the automotive sector "

 Q  You said you visited the north and the east and interacted with people. What is your impression of achievements on the ground there?

First of all, we saw projects delivered by the UN with the support of UK funding. Those projects are aimed at economic empowerment for those displaced by the civil war. The majority of them are from the Sri Lankan Tamil community.   
I was encouraged by the results of UK-funded projects that have invested in skills and training, giving young people business opportunities. I heard how these projects had supported their personal and professional development and resettlement into communities. I heard the essential role civil society plays in promoting respect for human rights, and their views on how to make progress on reconciliation and accountability. Equality of opportunity, access to justice, and political representation are important to these communities, as they contribute to Sri Lanka’s future. I emphasised UK support for these principles throughout my engagement with the Sri Lankan Government.   

 Q  The UK has a new Foreign Secretary. What are her priorities?

I am delighted to work with the Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss. She has been clear from the start about the importance of supporting individual liberty, humanity and dignity. The UK will continue its leadership role in promoting access to education and economic empowerment for women and girls. The UK will continue to be at the forefront of assistance for those affected by humanitarian crises. Also, the Foreign Secretary is a great believer in economic empowerment. She has boosted our development finance institutions to support infrastructure globally, through the launch of the new British Investment International.   

"We seek to be a constructive partner with Sri Lanka across the board. We will continue to highlight areas where the UK can provide support, including on issues of human rights. On the UNHRC process, we intend to continue our constructive engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka, in concert with our partner countries in the Core Group "

 

 

 Q  The UK has its own priorities and Sri Lanka has its own. How can these be reconciled in working together?

There are areas of differences. We have a current resolution at the UNHRC 46/1 that supports justice and accountability, reconciliation, and peacebuilding. I discussed UK support to that UN process with the President and other members of the government. I highlighted the imperative for the Government of Sri Lanka to make progress on Human Rights, the rule of law, and good governance.   
This is the bedrock for the Government’s ambitious plans for economic development to benefit all communities in Sri Lanka. I urged the Sri Lankan Government to take further concrete steps towards justice and accountability in line with the UNHRC process. This will support the Government’s aims on reconciliation and social cohesion. This, in turn, will foster the stability that is essential to economic security for all Sri Lankans. Our constructive engagement extends to other areas such as the environment. I have seen practical projects to protect the environment such as the Colombo Wetlands Project. The UK is keen to share its expertise in off-shore wind power to enable Sri Lanka’s transition to greater use of renewable energy.   

"It is important that all steps are taken by the Sri Lankan Government towards reconciliation, justice and accountability, are communicated clearly to domestic stakeholders and the international community"

 Q  How is the UK planning to help Sri Lanka get over this economic crisis?

In the first instance, it is very much for Sri Lanka to come forward with a clear plan for managing the economic challenges that it faces, including the debt situation. That will enable the UK to assess more effectively the long term opportunities for commercial partnerships with Sri Lanka. There are current challenges, for example, the constraints on UK exports in the automotive sector. We need Sri Lanka to put forward economic reforms that enhance its trade and investment climate and thereby support its plans for economic development.   

 Q  The UNHRC session is coming up now. How is the UK as the prime mover of the resolution going to work with Sri Lanka?

We seek to be a constructive partner with Sri Lanka across the board. We will continue to highlight areas where the UK can provide support, including on issues of human rights. On the UNHRC process, we intend to continue our constructive engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka, in concert with our partner countries in the Core Group. It is important that all steps are taken by the Sri Lankan Government towards reconciliation, justice and accountability, are communicated clearly to domestic stakeholders and the international community.