‘Pillay visit will accrue to SL’s benefits’

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The proposed visit to Sri Lanka by United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navaneetham Pillay will be a boost to the country’s achievements in the Human Rights sphere and post-war development and reconciliation process, said former Attorney General Mohan Peiris who returned to the country on Sunday after participating in the 21 st UN Human Rights Council sessions held in Geneva.

The UN Human Rights Council is now in session in Geneva.

Peirs is a member of the Sri Lanka delegation to the Council.

The delegation is headed by Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha.

Peiris said, UN Human Rights Commissioner Navaneetham Pillay will visit Sri Lanka against a background

wherein Sri Lanka has operationalized its National Action Plan recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

“Her presence in the country will demonstrate to the world and Tamil diaspora that Sri Lanka has established peace and stability since the cessation of the country’s decades long war against terrorism, : he pointed out.

“It is going to showcase that Sri Lanka has fulfilled its international Human Rights obligations,” he said. .

Moreover, UN HR Commissioner Navee Pillay’s visit will strengthen the confidence that Sri Lanka has placed in the international community, he said.

Two UN officials from the Office of the UN Human Rights High Commissioner are currently in Sri Lanka to arrange the groundwork for her planned visit, External Affair Ministry told the Daily News that they are looking forward to welcome the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights once she confirms her visit to the country.

Peiris said, the international community has expressed their confidence in Sri Lanka’s work towards national reconciliation. He said, during the meetings held on the side lines of the ongoing 21 st UN Human Rights sessions, the top UN officials and ambassadors of other countries had told them that they were impressed with the work carried out by Sri Lanka towards its post-war reconciliation and development.

'They even went on to promise funding assistance to some programmes when we outlined the action we have put in place to achieve post-war reconciliation, he said.

Commenting on the LLRC National Action Plan, he said financial allocations have already been set apart to complete its implementation in the forthcoming budget.

The implementation of LLRC report has been placed under the supervision of a task force headed by the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga.

“This will be a routine visit by UN Human Rights Commissioner.

'She will be able to get first hand experience about the real situation in Sri Lanka and the steps that the government has taken to fulfill its international obligations of engagement with the Council,” he added.