SLFP Senior Vice President and Transport Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva shows the OHCHR report to the media - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday said that the Government should call for a referendum or enact a constitutional amendment in order to implement the recommendations in the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR). 

SLFP Senior Vice President and Transport Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva stressed that the country’s judicial system and Constitution did not enable the enactment of the OHCHR report’s proposals.

“Before complying with the UN recommendations, we should pass legislation to consider war crimes and crimes against humanity criminal offences. However, such legislation will create issues amongst the public and a referendum will be a solution,” he explained.

“The Constitution has outlined how the country’s judicial system should work. If we agree to establish a hybrid court, we must pass an amendment. It will take time,” Silva further stated. 

The minister also said that final response of the SLFP regarding the OHRCH report would be released after discussions. 

“Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, me and another 12 members of the SLFP Central Committee are studying the 261 pages of the OHCHR report to finalise the SLFP’s response. We have asked SLFP MPs to express their views and expect to reveal our decision within the next few days,” he noted.

Commenting over President Maithripala Sirisena’s leadership, Silva asserted that he was able to win the UN’s trust through his speech at the 70th Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“President Sirisena has upheld the country’s image at the UN. We believe that the OHCHR report was watered down due to his friendly approach,” Silva said. 

SLFP wants FPP system for Local Govt. polls

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday stressed that the forthcoming local government elections should be held under the First Past the Post (FPP) system.

SLFP Senior Vice President and Transport Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said: “According to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the electoral reforms will be enacted by the end of the year and it must be held under the FPP system. In the agreement of the National Government, the SLFP had clearly mentioned what we really expect from electoral reforms.”