The Human Rights Commission Act, No. 21 of 1996, which is the legal framework for the national human rights institution and prescribes its functions and powers, has been discussed previously and found to be wanting.27 The HRCSL recognises that there are deficiencies to its enabling law that have impeded its effectiveness, particularly in enforcement of its orders, and it proposes to prepare and submit suitable amendments to lobby the government.
However, there was no progress on this in 2011, nor were there any initial public consultations with civil society organisations and other interested parties, specifically on this matter.
The National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (2011-2016), has promised the following amendments to the enabling act:28 (i) expansion of the mandate of the HRCSL to include not only fundamental rights explicitly protected in the Constitution but also any other human rights that are justiciable under national laws;29 (ii) require the HRCSL to publish an annual report within the first quarter of every year documenting the status of human rights in Sri Lanka in the preceding year, action taken on inquiries, and findings from its research; (iii) empowering HRCSL to refer non-implementation of its recommendations to the Attorney-General’s department for action in the provincial high courts on behalf of the aggrieved party; (iv) all arrests to be notified to the HRCSL. The time-frame for the execution of these activities is one-year, which at most would be the end of 2012.
Membership and Selection
The appointment and composition of the members of the HRCSL, with effect from 18 February 2011, followed an interregnum of almost two years. The selection process was the subject of adverse comment by the UN Committee Against Torture which, inter alia, observed that the “new appointment process set out by the 18th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution (September 2010), which ends Parliament’s role in approving appointments, undermines the independence of the HRCSL”; and which recommended that the State Party “establish a transparent and consultative selection process to guarantee its full independence in line with the Paris Principles”.30 This shortcoming was one of the main reasons for the downgrading of the HRCSL to ‘B’ status in 2007 by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC).
The Commissioners themselves are untroubled by the manner of their appointment and appear surprised that it is a source of controversy in certain quarters within and outside the country. The ad-hoc commissions of inquiry which have been created in abundance in post- colonial Sri Lanka are all appointed by “executive fiat”;31 and the ethos of the retired public officers drawn upon as members of the Human Rights Commission is one of adaptation and not antagonism to the prevailing constitutional (and also political) culture – hence the selection process is not seen as out of the ordinary or objectionable per se.
Before appointment to the HRCSL, most members are unfamiliar with the unique character and normative standards of national human rights institutions. Even after their appointment, some may believe that knowledge of the enabling law that established the Commission, and of the fundamental rights chapter of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, is sufficient in the interpretation of their mandate. Although members are to be chosen from among persons “having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights”,32 there is no procedure in the selection process to ascertain their human rights expertise and assess their familiarity with the international human rights system.
Further, the view of the current crop of Commissioners is that their independence from the Executive is guaranteed by the legal provision33 that limits the power of the President to remove them from office. However, this argument does not address the concern raised by the flawed process of nomination and appointment of members to the Human Rights Commission; and it sidesteps the fact that it is the prerogative of the President alone whether to extend or terminate their appointment at the end of their term.
To be sure, members may be selected in a method that is procedurally sound, but may thereafter exhibit political bias; and conversely, though having been appointed in an unsatisfactory process, may demonstrate in the course of their duties the requisite integrity and freedom from political manipulation that is anticipated from the leadership of a national human rights institution. Therefore, the real test of independence from government is the actual performance of the members: their words and deeds or acts and omissions when confronted with concrete situations of human rights violations and concerns. Nevertheless, transparency and broad participation in the selection process, offers the best possible means to establish the competence, suitability and autonomy of Commissioners.
In February 2012, perhaps the most dynamic member of the Commission Dr. Ananda Mendis, resigned in frustration having completed one year in office. He complained of “inefficiency” in the workings of the Commission; of sub-standard crime scene investigations; and of “interference” by a senior executive officer.34
The last reference is to the Additional Secretary (Legal) Nimal Punchihewa, who was a human rights lawyer before he joined the Commission after its establishment in 1997. His lengthy association with the HRCSL and familiarity with its workings and its cadre has given him an authority, exceeding the ordinary terms of reference of his position, among past and present members of the Commission as well as its staff at the head and regional offices.
Of greatest controversy is the Additional Secretary’s concurrent appointment as Chairman of the Land Reform Commission (LRC), which is an office in the gift of the President. While there are no claims of conflict of interest, prima facie this dual role poses an immediate challenge to the independence of the HRCSL; as one of its senior officers is also attached – through political patronage – to the government. The LRC, no different to other state corporations or departments of state, has been used by the government of the day to reward its supporters and to harvest votes in elections.35
The vacancy created by Dr. Mendis’ resignation was promptly filled by the appointment of Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, who is Dean of the Faculty of Law at a military academy (Kotelawala Defence University). The new member has been associated with the HRCSL in the capacity of a human rights expert and speaker at some of its public events. However, he is a controversial choice because of his public identification with government policy in frequent television appearances on state broadcasting channels and in op-ed articles for newspapers. It should be acknowledged that he was critical of the selection process for the Human Rights Commission and sceptical of the suitability of some of its members and hinted at his dissatisfaction with the ramifications of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution for ‘good governance’.36
Following his own appointment as a member of the HRCSL, Dr. Mahanamahewa was a virulent critic of the resolution tabled at the 19th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2012 that called upon the GoSL to begin implementing the recommendations of its own Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission and to avail itself of the technical assistance of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in this regard.37
While there could be opposed views within the human rights community as to the desirability and likely consequences of that resolution, it was surely inappropriate for a member of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to publicly involve himself in the GoSL’s political and media campaign, and to contribute to the disinformation propagated concerning the resolution and its effects.
Relationship with the State
Within weeks of the reconstitution of the Commission in February 2011, the Chairman embarked on a series of media interviews which made clear his sympathy for the government’s privileging of counter-terrorist measures over human rights standards in its handling of the secessionist campaign of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE); and his identification with the State in its outright opposition to international demands for accountability flowing from allegations of gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the decisive conclusion of the war.
“I cannot believe that there is a basis for any of these accusations [of human rights violations from international actors]. This is a country which protects human rights and adheres to the same”, said Justice (Retd.) Priyantha Perera. “The International Community and International Organisations have forgotten the fact that this country was facing a war with a fascist terrorist organisation for thirty years. The [LTTE] never gave a thought to human rights...It is surprising that some people discuss only about [LTTE leader] Prabhakaran’s human rights.”38
The HRCSL Chairman has refused to criticise the non-conformity of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations, claiming that since the end of the war it was a “dead letter”. In fact, the PTA was strengthened after the lapse of the state of emergency in August 2011; and continues to be invoked to detain persons without charge, as 241 persons were arrested under this law in 2011 alone.39
The former Supreme Court Justice would not be drawn on the maintenance of the island-wide state of emergency that severely restricted civil liberties and fundamental rights; pronouncing its continuance to be “a matter for the government”.40 In a later interview, he went even further, when claiming that “at present there is no abuse of emergency regulations.”41 It is unclear on what basis this opinion was formed. Indeed, the stock response from the Chairman to any such queries over state policy and practices is that, these are “matters that go beyond the purview of the HRCSL Act”.42 To the contrary, public positions for reform or repeal of laws that violate human rights are entirely germane to the mandate of the Commission as explicitly provided in section 1043 of its enabling law.
Elsewhere, in an interview granted upon his return after attending the 24th annual meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC) in May 2011, Mr. Justice (Retd.) Perera claimed that there had been heavy criticism of the island’s human rights record, but assured that he was “able to pacify the detractors and put the correct picture of Sri Lanka before them”.44
Sri Lanka was not an agenda item at ICC-24, and presumably the Chairman was referring to issues raised during bilateral discussions and in informal conversations with delegates. Nevertheless, his remarks indicate that he perceived his role there as being an ambassador for the state of Sri Lanka – engaged in defending its human rights record – rather than as the head of the institution that is supposed to monitor, chastise and correct the state when violations of human rights occur or are imminent.
In a strange episode, a circular (dated 8 March 2012) purportedly issued by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs was sent to Secretaries of Ministries and Provincial Councils, Heads of Departments and Chairmen of State Corporations and statutory agencies to the effect that recommendations of the HRCSL were without legal effect. Soon after this came to notice, the Minister concerned acted swiftly to clarify that the circular was a forgery and to order a police investigation. The Secretary to the Ministry issued a circular clarifying
that recommendations of the HRCSL had to be adhered to by government agencies.45
---------
foot notes
27 B. Skanthakumar, “‘Window-Dressing’? The National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka”, Law
& Society Trust Review (Colombo), No. 262 (August 2009), pp. 5-22 at pp. 6-8 and
16-19,
28 Sri
Lanka: National
Action Plan
for the
Protection and
Promotion
of Human Rights
(2011 -2016), http://www.hractionplan.gov.lk/posters/National_action_plan_for_the_protection_and_promotion_of_human_ri
29
While, this is an
improvement, its
ambition is extremely disappointing as the remit of a national human rights
institution is the protection and promotion of all human rights, including those guaranteed in international human rights treaties and conventions ratified or acceded by the state party, but which may not be found in
national laws. For example, as state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
Sri Lanka recognizes the right to life; however, there is no constitutional or statutory provision to this effect in
its domestic legal system
including in the enactment (Act No. 56 of 2007) to give effect to “certain articles” in
the
ICCPR. For discussion
see Rohan Edrisinha and Asanga Welikala, “GSP Plus and the ICCPR: A Critical Appraisal of the Official Position
of Sri Lanka in respect of Compliance Requirements”, in Centre for Policy Alternatives and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (eds.), GSP+ and Sri Lanka: Economic, Labour and Human Rights
Issues,
Colombo
2008, http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/sri_lanka/08684.pdf.
30 Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture: Sri Lanka, Forty-Seventh session (31 October –
25 November 2011), CAT/C/LKA/CO/3-4, 8 December 2011, Para 17 on p. 7,
31
Kishali
Pinto-Jayawardena, Still Seeking Justice in Sri
Lanka: Rule of Law, the Criminal Justice System and Commissions of Inquiry since 1977, International Commission
of
Jurists, Bangkok 2010, at p. 107, http://icj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/srilanka_impunity_18_01_20102.pdf..
33
The grounds for dismissal by the President as set out in s. 4 (1) (a), Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
Act, No. 21 of 1996 are: insolvency; paid employment outside of the Commission that conflicts with the duties of a member;
infirmity of mind or body; deemed by judicial determination to be of
unsound mind;
conviction of
an offence involving “moral turpitude”; and absence without permission from
three consecutive meetings of the
Commission. Any member of the Commission may also be removed by parliamentary procedure – on the
ground of “proved misbehaviour or incapacity” – that has the support of the majority
of the legislature, see s. 4
(1)
(b) & (2), http://hrcsl.lk/english/ACT/english.pdf.
34 Dinidu de Alwis, “I leave HRC with a clear conscience”, Ceylon Today (Colombo), 5 February 2012; Manori
Kalugampitiya, “Why did I resign from the Human Rights Commission?” (in Sinhala), Samabima (Colombo),
Commission?” (in Sinhala), Lankadeepa (Colombo), 13 March 2012.
35 “The Land Reform Commission was (sic) organised a program to distribute 5,000 Ranbima land title deeds
among landless people in the Hambantota District to mark President Mahinda Rajapaka's swearing-in for the
second term
of office, said LRC Chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa”, see “Five thousand Ranbima land deeds”,
Daily News (Colombo), 18 November 2010, http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/11/18/news43.asp. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the LRC was a general election
candidate for the governing United Peoples Freedom
Alliance coalition
in 2010, when he was also the Colombo district electoral organiser for the Sri Lanka Freedom
Party
(that dominates the ruling coalition) and legal adviser to the Ministry of Defence. This example illustrates the nexus between those
appointed to senior
positions in the LRC and
the Executive.
36 Prathiba Mahanamahewa, “Should the 18th Amendment be tainted by unwanted appointments?” (in Sinhala),
Irida Lankadeepa (Colombo), 6 March 2011.
37 UN
Human Rights Council, Promoting Reconciliation and
Accountability in Sri Lanka,
A/HRC/RES/19/2,
22 March 2012,
http://daccess-dds- ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/G12/126/71/PDF/G1212671.pdf?OpenElement; Friday Forum, “The wise
give up the idea of victory and defeat”, The Island (Colombo), 16 April 2012, http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=49616.
38 Uditha
Gunawardena, “No
basis for Human
Rights
Violations
accusations
made
by the international
community”,Dinamina (Colombo),5March2011
39 “There are no political prisoners in custody”, Daily News (Colombo), 24 May 2012, http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/05/24/pol02.asp.
40 Wilson Gnanadass, “I will ensure impartiality, says SLHRC chief”, The Nation (Colombo), 6 March 2011, http://www.nation.lk/2011/03/06/newsfe2.htm.
41
Dianne
Silva, “No abuse of emergency
regulations: HRC Chairman”, Daily Mirror (Colombo), 11 June 2011, archiveat http://srilog.com/no-abuse-of-emergency-regulations-hrc-chairman_1098.html; also see
video interview at http://dailymirror.lk/video/11857-justice-priyantha-perera-on-hot-seat.html.
42 Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, HRCSL Response to Law & Society Trust Letter and Discussion [at Civil Society Forum on 11 July 2011] , 23 November 2011 (on file). The LST letter dated 2
August 2011
is
online here:
43 S. 10 (d), Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 21 of 1996: “to make recommendations to the
Government regarding measures which should be taken to ensure that national laws and administrative practices
are in accordance with nternational human rights norms and standards”,