Sri Lanka on the global stage

Monday, 11 February 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The coming week will see some interesting lobbying by Sri Lanka to boost its support base ahead of the crucial United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions starting on 25 February.

It was reported over the weekend that External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris will fly to Dhaka on Wednesday in what is seen as a crucial mission to avert a Commonwealth stricture on Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is the current chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which is meeting in April to discuss among other matters Sri Lanka’s alleged failure to abide by the Latimer House Principles on judicial independence.

South Asian diplomatic sources have been quoted indicating Bangladesh had already come under tremendous pressure from some Commonwealth nations that sought an early CMAG meeting to take action against Sri Lanka and wanted the venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit shifted from Hambantota to London or Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius.

They said Minister Peiris’ visit, aimed at persuading Bangladeshi leaders not to go along with Canada and some other members of the CMAG, would put Dhaka in a major diplomatic dilemma. Canada has already stated that they will back the second resolution presented by the US at UNHRC along with Britain.

Bangladesh has been seen as inclined to back Sri Lanka, but Sri Lanka must show up with at least some perfunctory progress towards Commonwealth values so that Bangladesh could resist pressure and justify its decision not to take action against Sri Lanka. The same dedication would need to be seen by other CMAG members if they are to support the island.

Dr. Peiris met Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma on Tuesday in London to protest against moves to include Sri Lanka in the CMAG. Sharma arrived on Sunday for talks with Sri Lankan leaders. During the controversial impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, in November Sharma went on record criticising the process employed by the Government.

Speaking in London, Sharma had insisted stressed that the Commonwealth believes the preservation of the rule of law and independence of the Judiciary are vital to the healthy functioning of a democracy. He had called on the Government to respect the ruling given by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court that decreed the impeachment process was unconstitutional and therefore illegal. Sri Lankan Government officials will be working hard to dissuade Sharma from this stance and prove that Bandaranayake was indeed removed constitutionally.

So far the Government has given every indication that the term to UNHRC will be low key. So far Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ravinath Ariyasinghe has been given the responsibilities of representing the country, but the External Affairs Ministry and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe are reported to be working extensively behind the scenes. It is very likely that CMAG will be heavily influenced by the events at the UNHRC.

Dealing with the dual challenges of CMAG and UNHRC will test the Government’s diplomatic capacity to the limit and put Sri Lanka’s international reputation on the line. Will the Government deliver?