OK for rights monitoring

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Cabinet approval has been granted to appoint a Cabinet Sub-Committee to monitor the process of speedy implementation of the proposals in the Human Rights Action Plan by the relevant ministries and authorized agencies, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

Minister Anura Yapa

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Yapa said that Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L.Peiris, Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera have been appointed to the committee.

Minister Yapa said that Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe continues to function as the Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights and as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Officials’ Committee.

President’s Counsel, former Attorney General and presently Senior Legal Advisor to the Cabinet of Ministers Mohan Peiris will assist the Cabinet Sub-Committee and the Committee may co-opt the services of any other officials deemed necessary

According to minister Yapa, the Human Rights Action Plan has already been approved by the Cabinet and most of the proposals embodies in the Action Plan have already been or in the process of being implemented. Implementation of recommendations made by the LLRC Report has already been handed over to relevant ministries. There is a visible progress in it.

Minister Yapa pointed out that when comparing with other countries,which had terrorism and war, Sri Lanka did much better than any other country in the world when it comes to de-mining, resettling IDPs and developing infrastructure facilities in the war affected regions. Sri Lanka is proud to tell its story to the whole world.

Since certain elements lie about Sri Lanka, the future generation of Sri Lanka and those in the world who are not aware about the ruthlessness of the LTTE should know the brutality of the barbaric LTTE.

The DVD, ‘Ruthless’ is released for that purpose.