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In an exclusive interview to Sri Lanka’s National News Agency, Lankapuvath, Commissioner of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and Attorney-at-Law, Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa has stressed that there is nothing to be feared about the report the London-based organisation has submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee.
Amnesty International has submitted a 40-page report criticising Sri Lanka to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in connection with implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Sri Lanka will present its fifth periodic report to the Human Rights Committee during its 112th session in Geneva from 7 to 31 October 2014, and the committee will review the reports on Sri Lanka on October 7 and 8.
Explaining that there are several mechanisms the UN uses to assist human rights in a country including the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process and the ICCPR, Dr. Mahanamahewa has said that Sri Lanka has to submit a report annually because Sri Lanka is a stake party to the ICCPR.
He noted that certain recognised Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) also can submit reports on the particular country up for review and the report Amnesty International has submitted is just a written account. Both Sri Lanka stage report and the NGO reports are analysed next week during the review process by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) treaty body, Dr. Mahanamahewa stated.
“Sri Lanka one by one, has to respond to the concerns noted in these reports. The pages are not much important but the facts and the points are very important so Sri Lanka can respond,” the HR official said.
Following Sri Lanka’s responses, the treaty body will recommend the measures Sri Lanka needs to take to uplift the rights situation next year, he said, adding that there is no need for concern in the process.
“This is only a report so nothing to worry about that but we, Sri Lanka, have to be very much concerned about the contents in the report and to respond,” Dr. Mahanamahewa said.
“Submitting a report by Amnesty International is not final and conclusive, this will be lengthily discussed, debated, argued, and recommendations will be submitted. Sri Lanka must be ready to respond to the report in coming sessions next week,” he added.
