Tuesday, 09th September 2014
By P K Balachandran
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has rejected a charge by the incoming UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, that it is intimidating human rights workers and attacking religious minorities.
Reacting to the charge made at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Monday, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador, Ravinatha Aryasinha, said: “Sri Lanka rejects assertions regarding threats levelled against the human rights community in Sri Lanka. Steps will be taken at all times to investigate into complaints. In this context, it must be noted that the full gamut of constitutional guarantees including effective remedies are available to individuals or groups who wish to canvass the rights of persons”.
“Sri Lanka also regrets attempts being made to portray the country as intolerant of religious minorities. For centuries, people in Sri Lanka practicing different faiths and practices have coexisted peacefully and in harmony. However, like in all countries in the world composed of multi-cultural and multi-religious communities, unfortunate isolated incidents can occur. Wherever such incidents of attacks involving religious places of worship have taken place or any individual has been targeted on the basis of religion or faith, the legal process has been set in motion in respect of reported incidents and investigations have been launched.”
Earlier, Zeid had said: “I attach great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka, mandated by this Council, on which OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) will report later in the session. I encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to cooperate with this process in the interests of justice and reconciliation. I am alarmed at threats currently being levelled against the human rights community in Sri Lanka, as well as prospective victims and witnesses. I also deplore recent incitement and violence against the country’s Muslim and Christian minorities.”
Earlier in Colombo, the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the island nation would continue to engage the UN on rights issues. Abe was also told that Prince Zeid has been invited to visit Lanka.
