Step by step reconciliation process underway in SL, President tells UNHRC Chief

President Maithripala Sirisena has informed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid al-Hussein of Sri Lanka’s step-by-step process to build reconciliation in the country. 

“Sri Lanka is performing for the betterment of its people with much responsibility, in keeping with the charters of UN, as a member of United Nations,” the President told Hussein during a meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd United Nations’ General Assembly Sessions.

Sirisena said the Government is taking the process to ensure human rights and reconciliation forward step by step. 

The President also pointed out that if the Government were to take sudden actions regarding these, the extremist groups would take advantage. He said two years are sufficient for Sri Lanka to complete the matters adopted by the UNHRC resolution. He invited Prince Hussein to visit Sri Lanka to witness the progress the country has achieved.

The President went on to detail on the steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure human rights and reconciliation. This task should be performed thorough understanding of the internal political and cultural matters, said Sirisiena, as well as international politics and culture.

The President further said that he signed the relevant gazette notification to establish the Office on Missing Persons before he made his official visit to the US. He said this office will be actively operated, adding that arrangements have been made to present a draft on a new Constitution to the Parliament.

All lands in the East previously under the control of security forces have now been released, noted Sirisena, adding that a substantial extent of land in the North also have been released. The rest will be released to the people after solving the relevant administrative issues, he said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights commended Sri Lanka’s progress in these matters, remarking that he will be more satisfied if this journey of the Sri Lankan Government is speeded up. He commended the actions taken to establish the Office on Missing Persons. al-Hussein urged the President of Sri Lanka to appoint officers for this office from all communities so that every community can accept the actions of the office. He added the UN Human Rights Council will give its fullest support to Sri Lanka on this regard.