SL’s main steps towards normalization
Statement by Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri
Lanka and Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 21st HRC yesterday
My delegation takes note of the High Commissioner’s statement. Sri
Lanka is firmly committed to maintaining the independence of the OHCHR,
and supports the High Commissioner in her efforts to fulfil her mandate
as contained in GA resolution 48/141. Towards this end, we see
constructive engagement by states aimed at increasing transparency in
funding and staffing of the OHCHR, as a means of enhancing the
institution’s credibility, efficiency and independence.
Independent functioning
We also encourage special procedures to vigilantly and vigorously
observe the provisions as delineated in HRC Resolution 5/2 and the Code
of Conduct as annexed, in the execution of their respective mandates,
through a professional and impartial assessment of facts, to maintain
credibility.
Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha |
For the effective and independent functioning of the OHCHR and the
special procedures mandate holders, it is imperative that the majority
of funding be derived from the OHCHR regular budget.
In keeping with Sri Lanka’s policy of continuous engagement with the
UN System, I wish to avail of this opportunity to provide you an update
on the significant steps taken, since the Council last met in June 2012,
to consolidate our hard won peace following the defeat of terrorism, and
to ensure rapid development and reconciliation amongst our people.
* Of the 295,873 IDPs in May 2009, the number that remains to be
re-settled has reduced to 3,054.
* Of the 2061.53 sq.km. contaminated with landmines and UXOs, less
than 116 sq.km. remain to be cleared.
* Of the approximately 12,000 ex-LTTE combatants who surrendered,
only 1,034 remain to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
* The former high security zones have ceased to exist.
* The military is no longer involved in civil administration in the
Northern and the Eastern provinces.
* The Security Forces presence in the Jaffna peninsula has been
reduced from 50,000 at the height of the conflict, to 15,000 at present.
* Following on a growth rate of 22 per cent in 2010, the Northern
province in 2011 once again recorded the highest growth rate among all
provinces, of 27.1 per cent, and continued to increase its share of the
national economy driven by an expansion in agriculture, fishing,
construction, transportation and financial services.
• The Trilingual Policy announced by the Government in January 2012
to further expand the Official Languages Policy is being implemented
vigorously.
* Sri Lanka’s democratic credentials were yet again re-asserted 2
days ago with the successful conduct of Provincial Council elections,
including in the previously conflict affected Eastern Province. The
ruling coalition UPFA returned the highest number of seats in all three
Provincial Councils that went to the polls - a clear endorsement by the
Sri Lankan people of the policies of the government of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa which has sought to meet the aspirations of all communities in
the reconciliation process.
Strategy for implementation
Further, in addition to completing the translation of the LLRC Report
into the two official languages, Sinhala and Tamil, the Government in
July 2012 also released its strategy for implementation of the
recommendations contained in the Report of the Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in November 2011. It has been clustered
under the sub-themes of international humanitarian law issues -
inclusive of those concerning accountability, human rights, land return
and resettlement, restitution/compensatory relief and reconciliation -
on which multi-party consensus with respect to constitutional changes is
to be carried out through the Parliamentary Select Committee established
by the Government. This National Plan of Action not only identifies the
activity aimed at operationalising the recommendations of the LLRC, but
also goes on to earmark the key responsible agency, key performance
indicators, and most significantly, sets strict time frames within which
to complete the action.
Financial allocations
With significant synergies with the National Action Plan for the
Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, some sections of the LLRC
Action Plan are already at an advanced stage of implementation under the
direction of an 8 member Task Force headed by the Secretary to the
President. Financial allocations to complete the implementation of this
plan has already been earmarked in the forthcoming budget. The
international community, especially those countries that have faced the
challenge of emerging from protracted conflict or continue to be
embroiled in such conflict would particularly appreciate the
significance of these achievements. Sri Lanka also welcomes the
engagement it has been able to maintain with the High Commissioner and
her Office, and looks forward to receiving in Sri Lanka later this week
a team of officials from the OHCHR, to prepare the ground for a visit by
the High Commissioner, in furtherance of the invitation extended to her
in April 2011.
It is hoped that this visit will help the OHCHR gain appreciation of
the significant strides made by Sri Lanka in evolving a home grown
process of reconciliation, in what has been a period of a little over
three years since the guns fell silent.
We hope that this visit would also help consolidate the trust in the
Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, which have come to be viewed
with circumspection by the people of Sri Lanka. In fulfillment of its
international obligations of engagement with the mechanisms of the Human
Rights Council, last month Sri Lanka also submitted its National Report
for consideration at the forthcoming 14th session of the Universal
Periodic Review scheduled to take place in November 2012.
Sri Lanka has always maintained that the UPR mechanism is the
appropriate forum to address the human rights situation of all countries
in an uniform and respectful spirit of engagement, and therefore looks
forward to a constructive dialogue at the forthcoming UPR of Sri Lanka. |