Truth-seeking Commission legislation in two months

Mangala in Geneva Says Govt. resolve to see transitional justice through, not diminished

The Minister highlighted that Parliament had enacted legislation to establish a Permanent Office on Missing Persons

The Sri Lanka Government expected to present the draft legislation on the Truth Seeking Commission to the Cabinet within the next two months, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera assured member states at the 34th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva yesterday.

The Minister said the Government’s resolve to bring justice to the victims of Human Rights violations remained firm.

He said the public consultations carried out by the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms were another important undertaking which was successfully concluded.

“More than 7,000 written submissions have been received from persons from all walks of life, many of them victims of Human Rights violations, who came forward to give their views. The Report of the Task Force is presently being studied in the context of designing the relevant Mechanisms for Truth-seeking, Reparations, Justice, and other reconciliation processes,” he said.

Taking allegations of continuing incidence of torture, he said the Government maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards torture.

“Although the National Human Rights Commission indicated that there was a downward trend of incidents, even one incident of torture is one too many. The Human Rights Commission, the Police and the Law and Order Ministry are working together to prevent and combat torture. This too is an area in which we require technical assistance and I hope that countries will come to our assistance,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Constitution drafting process was essential not only for democratisation but also for ensuring non-recurrence of conflicts.

“We seek, for the first time in our country’s modern history, to engage in this process wholeheartedly as an exercise that would unite our people who have been divided for far too long. The Parliamentary process and referendum are imperative. We want to ensure that this 3rd Republican Constitution would reflect the true aspirations of our people unlike those before,” he said.

He assured that the Government’s resolve to see the transitional justice process through had not diminished.

“We strongly believe that we can make the reconciliation process a success with the help of all citizens, our friends and partners in the international community. We believe that we can make Sri Lanka a shining example of a country that is prosperous, united in its diversity, upholding human rights, justice, and the rule of law,” he said.

Briefing the Council on the measures taken by the Sri Lankan Government since the previous UNHRC session in June 2016, Minister Samaraweera said legislation to give effect to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was approved by the Cabinet and was expected to be tabled in Parliament shortly.

Among the other measures taken, the Minister highlighted that Parliament had enacted legislation to establish a Permanent Office on Missing Persons.

“The budget for the year 2017 has, in the interim, allocated over a billion Rupees for this,” he said.

Among other things he said that the National Policy on Durable Solutions for Conflict-affected Displacement had been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

“The Registration of Deaths was amended by Parliament and the issuance of Certificates of Absence was enabled. The National Human Rights Action Plan for the period 2017-2021 was approved by the Cabinet.

“Some 11,253 houses had been handed over during 2016 to the internally displaced; Rs. 4,785 million has been allocated for 5,732 houses for the internally displaced for 2017.

“A total of 5,515.98 acres of state land and 2,090.03 acres of private land were released in 2016; and 1,383.51 acres of state land and 30.54 acres of private land were released in January 2017.

The National Integration and Reconciliation Week was observed from January 8 to 14, 2017 with all public officials as well as school children taking a pledge, resolving to work together hand in hand, respecting the richness of our diversity for a new Sri Lanka that is united in its diversity,” he said.