ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is committed to upholding human rights and, whilst prioritising the island nation’s sovereignty and security, will positively respond to observations made by the international community and also introduce timely reforms to the country’s anti-terror laws, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
Delivering his policy statement to parliament on Tuesday (18), Rajapaksa invited the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to support his government’s efforts to uplift the living standards of the people living in Sri Lanka’s formerly war-ravaged North and East.
“We are a nation that respects international laws and conventions. We need to correct the misconceptions that have been taken to the international community in the past regarding our human rights. I say with responsibility that during my tenure, the government did not support any form of human rights violations. We will also not leave room for any such act in the future. We do not condone such actions in any manner,” said Rajapaksa, addressing parliament in the first day of sittings since he had prorogued it in December.
Pressure has been mounting on Sri Lanka to address alleged violations of human rights, particularly in the final phase of the 26-year war with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).
“For almost three decades, nearly all sections of the community in this country suffered due to terrorism. In 2009, we were able to end this situation by defeating terrorism and bringing peace back to the country,” an official English translation of the speech quoted Rajapaksa as saying.
“What we need now, however, is to set aside the dark memories of the past and build a secure country where all sections of the community can co-exist in peace. We must all unite for this purpose, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences,” he added.
Rajapaksa claimed that 90 percent of land in the north and east taken over by the military was already released during his tenure as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
“Since we are able to ensure security and maintain peace in these areas, this will enable us to liberate remaining lands in the future,” he said.
Addressing allegations of disappearances, the president said though disappearances during the war were not unique to one side, Sri Lanka will “bring about maximum justice for all of them”.
“We reject racism. The present government wants to safeguard the dignity and rights of every citizen in this country in a uniform manner. Therefore I urge those politicians who continue to incite people against each other for narrow political gains to stop doing so,” he said, noting his pardoning and release of several detained LTTE members.
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuan (SLPP) and its affiliates have been accused of whipping up racist sentiment to win elections.
Calls for Sri Lanka to reform its Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have been growing stronger in recent times, and according to President Rajapaksa, the government is “now ready to bring timely amendments” to the law that goes back to 1978.
“We are always ready to respond positively to observations made by the international community while giving priority to the country’s sovereignty and national security,” he said.
“We are a free sovereign nation. We have no need to intervene in conflicts among powerful nations. While we respect our neighbours, we wish to pursue a policy of friendship with all states.” he further said.
Rajapaksa said the people of the north and east who had been battered by war needed, above all else, economic security, a good education for their children, employment opportunities for the youth, opportunities for businesses and the self-employed, water to drink and for agriculture, housing, hospitals and roads.
“We regard government’s prime responsibility towards reconciliation as providing such facilities to these people without discrimination.
“Therefore, I urge the Members of Parliament representing the people of the North and East in this Parliament to set aside various political ideologies, at least temporarily, and support the government’s efforts to improve the living conditions of the people in your areas,” he said. (Colombo/Jan18/2022)