On Escalation Of Religious Tensions In Sri Lanka
By Karu Jayasuriya -
Karu Jayasuriya
The recent escalation of religious tensions in the country has given rise to a deep sense of foreboding and a profound sadness for myself, and others in the United National Party. Our regret is shared by the vast majority of moderates who reside in our society, to whom the actions of a few misguided, malicious elements have been both distasteful and of very serious concern. The violence against places of religious worship, whether Islamic or Christian, must be condemned unequivocally, as it is deeply wounding to the sentiments of entire communities of people. Any Buddhist citizen of this country would empathise with this sadness and despair, having lived through the violent desecration of this country’s most sacred Buddhist shrine, the Dalada Maligawa by brutal terrorists in 1998. As fellow sufferers, can we not empathise now, with the pain of others, who are facing similar terror at the hands of violent radicals who have become a law unto themselves?
When 30 years of brutal conflict ended in this island four years ago, it was the fervent wish of most Sri Lankans that the new nation we would forge in the aftermath of that turmoil would be one in which ethnic, religious, gender and other differences were transcended. For too long, Sri Lanka had been a society divided and people from every community and walk of life, were crying out for healing and reconciliation. In the new Sri Lanka, after the end of the conflict, the only identity that should have mattered was the Sri Lankan one. I had hoped, like many of my fellow Sri Lankans, that we could evolve into a society that celebrates diversity, and rejoices in the multi-culturalism that defines us as a people, the next rainbow nation.Read More
We Are Pleased Navi Pillay Was Able To Witness Sri Lanka’s Reconciliation Process
Manisha Gunasekera
24th session of the Human Rights Council – Agenda Item 3 , Statement at the ID with the SR on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-recurrence
Mr. President,
The delegation of Sri Lanka thanks the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence Mr. Pablo de Grieff for his Report (A/HRC/24/42), and takes note of the range of information presented based on different models of transitional justice.
We note the SR’s assertion that while the past two decades have witnessed a steady increase in the establishment and use of various truth-seeking mechanisms, they, in particular state-sanctioned commissions can be important instruments for the redress of violations when implemented in a comprehensive manner. The SR also notes that given the significant expansion of the commissions beyond fact finding, they find it increasingly difficult to satisfy growing expectations. We concur that the expansion of commission mandates without coherence, specificity and clarity, does not help in achieving reconciliation.
We welcome the SR’s recommendation that truth commissions adopt a gender-based approach, and his highlighting the funding aspect in the functioning of commissions, the latter being an often overlooked fact.
Mr. President, Read More
