Sri Lanka human rights under fire

By Neville de Silva in London

Sri Lanka’s human rights performance came under fire from the British Government saying it has worsened in recent times.

A main target of attack is the increasing role played by the military in civilian administration where more civilian functions are being passed on to the military.

The UK also made prominent mention of appointments being given to military persons accused of war crimes and a presidential pardon extended to the only member of the armed forces “convicted of a wartime atrocity”.

Last Friday the British Government’s Human Rights Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad who oversees South Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) released its Autumn 2020 report which commented on Sri Lanka’s deteriorating situation including the condition of minorities.

Sri Lanka came up for comment under the “Areas of Deterioration” in priority countries.

“The human rights environment in Sri Lanka worsened, with the continuation of surveillance and intimidation of activists and human rights defenders, the detention without charge of a high-profile human rights lawyer, and a presidential pardon of the only member of the armed forces convicted of a wartime atrocity”, the FCDO Report said.

 In March, the Government of Sri Lanka withdrew its support for UN Human Rights Council resolutions 30/1, 34/1, and 40/1 on post-conflict transitional justice, accountability, and reconciliation. The government announced their commitment to a domestic mechanism for reconciliation and accountability, although this is not yet established.

Parliamentary elections were delayed twice because of COVID-19, without the reconvening of Parliament, which resulted in a lack of parliamentary oversight from March onwards. Concerns were raised about the formation of presidential ‘task forces’, operating beyond parliamentary scrutiny.

“On freedom of religion or belief, there was an increase in anti-Muslim sentiment fuelled by disinformation around COVID-19. The decision to mandate cremations for all those affected by COVID-19 prevented Sri Lankan Muslims and other religious communities from practising their rites”.