Coalition: No war memorial ban for Sri Lanka
Tuesday 11 June 2013
UK Political Correspondent
The Coalition Government has refused to bow to demands from human rights groups to bar Sri Lanka from an event in Glasgow to commemorate the First World War.
Campaigners including Amnesty Scotland had said the country should not be invited because of its appalling human rights record.
The Government will mark the centenary of the war after next year's Commonwealth Games with a special service in Glasgow Cathedral followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph.
The heads of state of Commonwealth countries are to be invited.
Asked if Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be included, a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said the UK "enjoys normal diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka".
He added: "The final list of invites to the event in Glasgow will be decided nearer the time."
Mark Bevan, programme director at Amnesty Scotland, said: "We would urge the UK Government to prevent Sri Lanka using any Commonwealth event to gloss over the very serious human rights abuses in the country."
The Glasgow ceremony is among a programme of cultural events, candlelit vigils and other services that will be held to commemorate the First World War.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller, unveiling the programme in London, said: "Next year marks the centenary of events which did more than any other to shape the world in which we live.
"Given the scale of the conflict, it will not be difficult for every family in every village and every town up and down our country and indeed across the Commonwealth to be able to find their own story to tell."
Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 01:06 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 10, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government says the progress it made in addressing human rights concerns and reconciliation is accepted by many in the international community.Exercising Sri Lanka's right of reply with regard to references made to Sri Lanka by Canada and the US in the General Debate of the 23rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the Sri Lankan delegation said it was surprised by Canada's claim of "ongoing violations of human rights and lack of reconciliation in Sri Lanka."
Replying to Canada's statement, the Sri Lankan delegation said the "Government's progress with regard to addressing human rights concerns and reconciliation is being amply demonstrated on the ground, acknowledged by many in the international community, and elaborated comprehensively and in detail at successive Council sessions by the Sri Lanka delegation, including during the current Council session."
"The many facets of reconciliation including resettlement of displaced persons, demining, rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants including child soldiers, resolution of land issues, infrastructure development, housing, implementation of the language policy, as well accountability issues are being addressed in a comprehensive manner taking into consideration the aspirations of the affected communities," the government said.
The delegation noted that the progress achieved in the implementation of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations is well documented in the public domain and it is easily accessible.
As a founding member of the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka said it is firmly committed to its values and principles.
Sri Lanka said its "longstanding engagement and commitment to the Commonwealth is known" and demonstrated by the undertaking to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November this year.
The delegation expressed puzzlement over Canada referring to the Commonwealth meeting at the UNHRC meeting considering its membership not being universal.
Responding to US concerns, the Sri Lankan delegation said that every effort is being made by the Government to investigate incidents relating to alleged attacks on the media and to prosecute perpetrators of such crimes in instances where they are identified and sufficient evidence is available.
The delegation reiterated Sri Lanka's continued and constructive engagement with special procedures which itself is evidence of Sri Lanka's serious commitment to engagement with the Council and its mechanisms.
