Parliament will be strengthened with full powers: PM

Sri Lanka’s 225-member legislature will be strengthened by giving full powers to the assembly and it will become the strongest parliament in Asia, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Commonwealth regional human rights seminar for parliamentarians of the Commonwealth, as the Chief Guest, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Sri Lankan parliament will safeguard the supremacy of the people.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka is hosting the three-day Commonwealth regional seminar from 1-3 February to improve the abilities of parliamentarians to promote and protect human rights in Asia.

Members of parliament, ministers, and human rights experts from Sri Lanka and other Commonwealth Asia countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Maldives are attending the seminar.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), in collaboration with the CPA Sri Lanka Branch, are jointly convening the seminar for Asia, India and South-East Asia Legislatures focused on “Strengthening the role of Parliamentarians in the promotion and protection of human rights.”

Over the three days, parliamentarians will discuss human rights challenges in the region and consider practical action to improve the situation by using their remits of law making and oversight of the executive. They will consider their relationship with the international human rights system including the work of the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review mechanism, according to the CPA.

Speaking further the Premier said Sri Lanka is moving forward as a country that protects human rights.

“The country which overcame brutal terrorism prevailing for three decades is now engaged in a journey towards achieving peace and prosperity,” he said.

One of the prime tasks of the government is to build the economy of the Northern and Eastern provinces. He added that the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena was to be able to secure the rights of every community.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya addressing the seminar said Sri Lanka was able to move parallel with the world due to the victories it gained over the last year. He pointed out Sri Lanka has become one of the top countries protecting human rights.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Director of Programs Meenakshi Dhar said the seminar has further strengthened harmony among the member countries. She also defined it as a great platform to exchange views with each other.