67 Achievements re Human Rights, Rule of Law & Reconciliation Process in Sri Lanka
SRI LANKA: HUMAN RIGHTS, RULE OF LAW AND RECONCILIATION PROGRESS
January 2015 – February 2016
Prepared by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sri Lanka
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March 2016
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March 2016
1. The Cabinet of Ministers, on 2 March, approved Sri Lanka’s accession to the Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Convention)
February 2016
2. Sang the National Anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil at the Independence Day celebrations for the first time in 67 years. TNA MP, M.A. Sumanthiran, referred to it as a “giant step”.
3. Agreed to dates proposed by the following Special Procedure Mandate Holders to visit Sri Lanka:
a. Joint visit proposed from 29 April to 7 May by
i. SR on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
ii. SR on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment & punishment
ii. SR on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment & punishment
b. SR on Minority Issues – September 2016
c. SR on Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression – first semester of 2017
4. Received the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein (6-9 February) and facilitated wide-ranging meetings with victims, Opposition, key Ministers, the President and Prime Minister, key officials including the Defence Secretary and the Heads of Security Forces and Intelligence; facilitated his travel to Jaffna and Trincomalee.
5. The Minister of Foreign Affairs extended an invitation to Ms. Yasmin Sooka (International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka – ITJP) to visit Sri Lanka (letter dated 13 February 2016). This invitation was extended in response to a number of cases highlighted in the reports of the ITJP regarding ongoing torture and sexual violence.
