With nearly thirty percent implementation rate recorded on the recommendations by Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) last year, the independent Commission wrote to state entities reminding them that its recommendations cannot be appealed against and are obliged to implement them.
In a circular issued to Secretaries of Ministries, Provincial and Chief Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Heads of Corporations and Statutory Boards, the Commission informed them that "not implementing such recommendations under the guise of an appeal procedure is against the law of the country".
The Commission also stressed that officers or intuitions not implementing recommendations of the HRCSL shall be liable for measures taken against them by the Commission.
Drawing attention to directive issued by then Secretary to Ministry of Public Administration on implementing recommendations of HRCSL, the Commission pointed out that state institutions are required under Section 15 (7) of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act to set a final date by which respondents must inform the Commission about the steps taken by them to implement the recommendations of the Commission.
Navy is among the several state institutions that failed to implement the recommendations put forward by the HRCSL.
After hearing an application filed by a citizen who was barred from accessing remote Iranathivu island in Kilinochchi, HRCSL directed Navy on December 8, 2023 to refrain from imposing any restrictions on entering the island and issue written instructions to Navy personnel stationed in North Central naval area to allow citizens to access the island.
However, the Navy failed to implement those recommendations on the basis of 'national security'.
Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke, one of the Commissioners of HRCSL told the Sunday Times that the Commission issued the fresh circular after it felt that the implementation level was not satisfactory. "Some of the state institutions lack diligence and awareness when it comes to implementing Commission's recommendations,"
At last the Human Rights Commission has woken up.
There are so many cases where appeals are pending. What happens to those cases.
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