Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris addressed the Diplomatic Community at the Foreign Ministry Auditorium on 26th January 2022. This is the first diplomatic briefing in the new year.
At the outset, the Foreign Minister appreciated the opportunity to meet with the entire diplomatic corps as a continuation of the regular briefings organized by the Ministry to share current developments. The objective of today’s briefing was to share information on progress related to human rights and reconciliation as part of the continued engagement ahead of the upcoming 49th Session of the Human Rights Council, which will commence in the last week of February.
The Minister recalled that at the September 2021 Session of the Human Rights Council he reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the promotion and protection of Human Rights and to remaining engaged with the United Nations including the Human Rights Council. In this context, the Minister referred to the constructive engagement with the international community in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue.
Foreign Minister Peiris said the Government of Sri Lanka has undertaken substantial efforts with a view to accountability, restorative justice, and meaningful reconciliation which efforts were by the work of domestic institutions, and invited the heads of these institutions to brief on the tangible progress made. Accordingly, presentations on the progress made by domestic institutions during the past year were made by: Ms. Dhara Wijayatilake, Chairperson of the Office for Reparations (OR), Ms. Chamindry Saparamadu, Director General, Sustainable Development Council (SDC), Mr. Deepthi Lamahewa, Director General, Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), Mr. T.Thapparan, Head of Legal Division, Office of Missing Persons (OMP), Mr. Nihal Chandrasiri, Director, Research and Monitoring of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).
The Minister was particularly pleased to inform that after 43 years, the Prevention of Terrorism Act is being amended with the objective of bringing it in line with international norms and best practices. He informed that Cabinet approval has been obtained to gazette the bill containing the proposed amendments and thereafter to table the bill in Parliament for final approval. The Minister explained that the PTA is being amended after lengthy deliberations over several months.
He added that the substantive amendments to the PTA include amendments to the sections on detention orders, restriction orders, expressly recognizing judicial review of orders, expeditious disposal of cases of those charged to avoid long term detention, repealing sections impinging on freedom of expression, and introduction of provisions on access by magistrates and judicial medical officers, prevention of maltreatment and torture during the detention period, right to communicate with the family, grant of bail to long term detainees and day to day hearing of cases.
