HRC of Sri Lanka develops its own Programme of Work on Reconciliation working with international experts

Lawrence Mushwana, Chair of the
South African HRC

The working session held in Colombo on 22 – 23 May, brought together the Chairman, Justice Priyantha R.P. Perera, Commissioners Dr. Mahanamahewa, Mr. Anandarajah, and Ms. Ismail and the staff of the Commission, with 14 of the 44 HRCSL participants traveling from the regional offices outside of Colombo.

Over the course of two days the HRCSL drafted an Action Plan on Reconciliation, outlining concrete action points; partnership opportunities; timelines and outcomes for the HRCSL to undertake to contribute to on-going national reconciliation processes.

Rights Now challenges the Human Rights Commission's lame excuses on postponing National Torture Inquiry

Sudarshana Gunawardena.

Rights Now Collective for Democracy challenged the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to be transparent about real reasons as to why the previously announced National Inquiry on Torture has been postponed, through a letter to the Chairman of the HRCSL from the Executive Director of Rights Now, Attorney-at-Law Sudarshana Gunawardena.

Sri Lanka: HRCSL should defend human rights, not the regime

 The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) had submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem, recommendations in order to enhance the powers and mandate of the Commission. The recommendations have envisaged to endow the Human Rights Commission with powers to enact its recommendations by submitting them to the High Court or the Court of Appeal; powers to enact interim orders; powers to conduct investigations into matters of national concern and authority to issue warrants bearing the signature of the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission in the face of warrants being ignored by individuals.

Sri lanka: Revisions to HRCSL Act submitted to President

Niranjala Ariyawansha
Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, said revisions to the existing Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act, which contains five recommendations, had been submitted to the President as well as the Minister of Justice for their perusal, two weeks ago.

Letter to Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on the postponed Tortutre Commission

The following text was sent as a letter addressing the Chairman, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka today. It was signed by Sudarshana Gunawardana of Rights Now Collective for Democracy on behalf of 16 civil society organisations.

This was faxed to the Human Rights Commission today (Friday 13.12.2013) and it will be sent to the HRC by registered post tomorrow.

Sri Lanka to set up National Inquiry on Torture, It will be monitored by Commonwealth, says Kamalesh Sharma

 “We are also putting in place a scheme
that will help Sri Lanka progress
towards national reconciliation.”

Parvathi Menon

The Commonwealth Secretariat will assist Sri Lanka in setting up a National Inquiry on Torture, its Secretary-General Mr. Kamalesh Sharma said in an interview to The Hindu at the Secretariat headquarters at Marlborough House on the eve of his departure to Colombo to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

To be set up under the aegis of the Sri Lanka National Human Rights Commission and to be assisted and monitored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the inquiry will investigate all allegations of torture committed by government agencies or arms of the state from 2009 (the final stages of the civil war) to the present, he said.

Human Rights Commission to amend its Act in order to file contempt of court cases

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is to submit a draft of amendments to the Human Rights Commission Act before cabinet to empower the commission to file contempt of court cases before High Courts against public officers who did not comply with the commission’s recommendations.

The HRC’s effectiveness has increased dramatically focusing on some of the most egregious HR violators, and providing HRDs a voice - Ambassador Donahoe

Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe
U.S. Representative to the UN Human Rights Council

“The Human Rights Council: How relevant is it and what is the role of the United States?” -  BY Ambassador Donahoe

(Delivered at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy,January 24, 2013)
Thank you Ambassador Tanner for this invitation and the lovely reception. I am so pleased to see friends and colleagues here who have become close partners at the Human Rights Council.  I have heard a great deal about the Geneva Center for Security Policy, but this is the first time I have been able to participate in a GCSP event and I am delighted and honored to be here.  Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to reflect today on the U.S. role at the Human Rights Council.