Opposition in darkness on UPR report at Geneva

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights recently submitted at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva came into the limelight yesterday with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinhe demanding to see the contents of the review.

“The report send in response to UPR should be tabled in this house for information,” he said.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella confirming Wickremasinhe’s call reminded the house how the UNHCR brought in 72 recommendations against Sri Lanka in 2008. “After four years we are bound to respond to these recommendations. They evaluate the human right conditions of all countries. Now the Government has responded with how they have improved the human rights. The Parliament has the right to see the recommendations.”

“The Minister of External Affairs will address the house on UPR tomorrow,” confirmed Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena.

The UPR is a new and unique mechanism of the United Nations which started in April 2008 and consists of the review of the human rights practices of all states in the world, once every four years. According to reports, UNHRC has appointed India, Benin and Spain to the troika that is scheduled to review Sri Lanka. These three countries supported the UN resolution on Sri Lanka, sponsored by the United States and adapted by the UN Human Rights Council at the 19th sessions of UNHRC in Geneva on 22 March.