‘Accelerate reconciliation efforts and address citizens concerns’

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma yesterday called upon Sri Lanka to accelerate its efforts towards sustainable reconciliation, while urging the government to address legitimate concerns of the citizens in the Northern Province.

Delivering his departure statement at a media briefing yesterday, Sharma said a situation of enduring harmony needs to be created and added, “There cannot be durable reconciliation without knowledge of the whereabouts of missing persons and accounting for their disappearance or loss. Healing and forgiveness are possible only with full knowledge.”

He encouraged the government to continue the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations.

While commending the efforts made by the government to redevelop infrastructure and basic services in the Northern Province, which he observed during his one-day visit to the area, Sharma said it was equally important to empower the people of the province, as well as their elected leaders to address legitimate concerns on restricted and monitored movements of both the citizens of the province in their daily lives and those visiting them for lawful purposes.

He also emphasised the importance of continuing to reduce the military security role in the civilian life of the province. Meanwhile, in his statement Sharma also shed light on his discussions with the Elections Commissioner and noted that Commonwealth election observers have expressed concern on the lack of full independence of the Office of the Elections Commissioner.