Minister of Foreign Affairs President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry urged the office of the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to take the lead and call for a meeting of all party leaders to decide on a domestic truth-seeking mechanism that will deliver results and thereby protect everyone, and in turn prevent the imposition of an external mechanism.
“It is very important, and I therefore urge that we should have multi-party consensus on the truth-seeking mechanism. I would urge your (the Speaker’s) office to take the lead and call for a meeting of all party leaders so that we agree on the mechanism that will deliver domestically and will prevent an external mechanism, and will thereby also protect everyone,” he said while addressing Parliament yesterday (19).
He further noted that the Government will invite Sri Lankans who are living in various parts of the world to build a united Sri Lanka.
“We will invite our Sri Lankans who are living in various parts of the world, belonging to all races, ethnicities, and religions to come forward and march towards building a united Sri Lanka,” he added.
Sabry said that the opportunity should be given to those grieving to tell their stories, as well as for those unfairly accused to redeem themselves through a common platform.
“In the meantime, give an opportunity for the people who are grieving to come and tell their stories, as well as a platform for people who have been unfairly accused to come and redeem themselves. It is important that we do so, as otherwise, this mechanism will go out of the country,” he further added.
Sabry further noted that a domestic truth-seeking mechanism must be implemented as envisaged by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry for the Appraisal of the Findings of Previous Commissions and Committees on Human Rights and the Way Forward to investigate, inquire into, and report or take necessary actions on the findings of preceding commissions or committees appointed to investigate human rights violations, serious violations of international humanitarian law and other such offences.
“We must provide a platform where people can have their grievances addressed and find closure, however difficult that process may be. We are of the firm view that any solution should be within the Constitutional framework of a sovereign Sri Lanka. We seek the co-operation and understanding of all sectors of society and all political parties in carrying this process forward,” he elaborated.
He noted that this will prevent external forces from meddling in the country’s internal affairs, and also stressed that it is important for all governments to deliver on their promises.
“By doing so, we will prevent external actors from meddling in our own affairs, and therefore it is important that all governments, and our Government today, deliver on promises that we have made in order to seek a truth-seeking mechanism,” he added.
He further said that no country has a greater interest in bringing about reconciliation and promoting and protecting human rights among its people than Sri Lanka, a point that has repeatedly been emphasised during proceedings of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions.
“No sovereign Government is bound to work according to external prescriptions, but they should be guided by the democratic aspirations of its own people. Sri Lanka has a well-established, time-honoured legal system that is capable of ensuring the dispensation of justice according to the Constitution.”
He also noted that the Government remains committed to protecting the armed forces and the Police, who have made immeasurable sacrifices to defeat terrorism, protected the territorial integrity of the country, and regained the right to life for all people in Sri Lanka.
“The time is now opportune for us to get together and make good on the promises made by successive governments to the people in the areas of the reconciliation of human rights. We need to look beyond the UNHRC resolution and continue with vigour the work that has been initiated in this area. It is important that we deliver on the promises that we have repeatedly given to the international community, and to win over people of Sri Lankan origin in various parts of the world,” he added.