Foreign minister briefs diplomats on human rights progress
COLOMBO: Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris addressed the diplomatic corps at the Foreign Ministry Auditorium on Wednesday during the first diplomatic briefing for the New Year.
He 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 this 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 foreign minister recalled that at the September 2021 Session of the Human Rights Council he had reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the promotion and protection of Human Rights and to remain engaged with the United Nations including the Human Rights Council.
In this context, he 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 steps with a view to accountability, restorative justice and meaningful reconciliation which were efforts due to the work of domestic institutions and invited the heads of these institutions to brief on the tangible progress made.
Accordingly, presentations on the progress of domestic institutions during the past year were made by Chairperson of the Office for Reparations (OR) Dhara Wijayatilake, Director General of the Sustainable Development Council (SDC) Chamindry Saparamadu, Director General of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Deepthi Lamahewa, Head of Protection & Legal of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) J. Thatparan and Director of the Research and Monitoring of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Nihal Chandrasiri.
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 and explained that the PTA is being amended after lengthy deliberations over several months.