Sri Lanka has categorically stated that the Government is not willing to discuss on opening up a High Commission’s office or Human Rights Monitoring Mission with the intervention of the international bodies in Sri Lanka.

This was announced by the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe at the media briefing held to convey the outcome of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour’s visit to Sri Lanka made at the invitation extended by the Government today (13).

Minister also added that the Government is working closely with the United Nations High Commission and would welcome capacity building programmes and technical cooperation of the foreign experts to improve the existing Human Rights observing mechanisms in Sri Lanka. He clarified that we have adequate structures and institutions for monitoring HR situation in the country.

On the conclusion of her visit speaking to the media UN High Commissioner   said that if she was given an opportunity to visit Killinochchi she would have directly convey to the LTTE her deep concern about their violations of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, including the recruitment of children, forced recruitment and abduction of adults, and political killings. “I’m also very concerned by the many reports I have also received of serious violations by the TMVP and other armed groups” she added.

High Commissioner Louise Arbour wanted the country to pay more attention on broader human rights issues affecting all communities on the island as they have been eclipsed by the immediate focus on issues related to the conflict. “These challenges will remain before and after any peace settlement, and they are deserving of greater and more focused attention.” High Commissioner said.

Referring to the issues of abductions and disappearances she said that in the context of the armed conflict and of the emergency measures taken against terrorism, the weakness of the rule of law and prevalence of impunity is alarming.

“A final observation: it would be highly desirable for the Government to consider an early ratification of the new International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. In light of the documented violations of international humanitarian LAW, Sri Lanka should seriously consider joining the 105 countries which have ratified the Rome Treaty creating the International Criminal court” she added.