PM to head special committee to oversee UNHRC recommendations

Attempting to make stronger inroads on reconciliation, Cabinet has approved the establishment of a committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to oversee implementation of the recommendations on Sri Lanka by the UN Human Rights Council.

Cabinet approved the Cabinet paper presented by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to appoint a committee of ministers chaired by him and a committee of officials to assist the main committee in this regard. However, details of the commission were not released to the media during the weekly Cabinet briefing. 

The measure was taken to make use of the two extra years to implement the recommendations agreed in 2015, which were given at the session held in March 2017.

The committee will also look at the technical assistance Sri Lanka can obtain from UNHRC member countries when addressing the human rights issue and other steps which need to be taken to implement the recommendations in the resolution on Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, lawmakers unanimously passed the Office of Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) (Amendment) Bill yesterday in Parliament. Opposition lawmaker JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake’s proposal to remove a clause that enabled the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) to enter into agreements with any entity in executing its functions was adopted.

According to the Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, the office will have a limited role where it will not have any powers to hold criminal inquiries or file legal actions, and its role is limited to finding the truth on missing persons and issuing a Certificates of Absence where necessary.

Moving the motion, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of becoming one nation. “We need to look at healing the wounds of war and uniting as one nation. The Government has no plans to follow the past and to enter into lengthy legal battles. We must put a close to this and that closure is multifaceted. It requires not only a constitutional settlement and return of lands but also addressing the issue of missing persons and taking remedial action,” he said.

According to the Prime Minister, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission similar to that of South Africa will be established in Sri Lanka but will depend on the requirement. “Any development on this will be conveyed to the House. He said the Steering Committee involved in constitutional reforms has a responsibility to reach an agreement on the question of national importance,” he added. (AH)