Sri Lanka refuses to accept external accountability mechanisms

By Easwaran Rutnam

Speaking at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said that Sri Lanka is committed to protect the rights of all Sri Lankans through its domestic processes.

He said Sri Lanka is opposed to any external mechanism imposed on the country, including the Sri Lanka accountability project of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Minister said that such external mechanisms serve to create divisions and complicate the National reconciliation process.

He was speaking after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called on member states to impose further sanctions on those credibly accused of gross human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Turk presented a report on Sri Lanka which called for further targeted sanctions such as asset freezes and travel bans against individuals credibly alleged to have perpetrated gross international human rights violations or serious humanitarian law violations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said that investigations independent of any Government interference are being conducted under judicial oversight into the grave sites, including in Chemmani.

He said the Government has and will continue to provide adequate resources for the related processes.

The Minister also said that the Government has afforded full independence to the Police, and investigations have been resumed into many longstanding cases, including the Easter Sunday attacks, attacks against journalists, etc.

Herath said that the Government has not hesitated to take stern action against abuse of power by any public official.