Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris addressed the Diplomatic Corps at the Foreign Ministry Auditorium on 26 January, 2022 during the first diplomatic briefing for the New Year.

Foreign Minister Peiris appreciated the opportunity to meet with the entire diplomatic corps as a continuation of the regular briefings organized by the Ministry to share current developments. The objective of this briefing was to share information on progress related to human rights and reconciliation as part of the continued engagement ahead of the upcoming 49th Session of the Human Rights Council, which will commence in the last week of February.

The Minister recalled that at the September 2021 Session of the Human Rights Council he had reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the promotion and protection of Human Rights and to remain engaged with the United Nations including the Human Rights Council. In this context, the Minister referred to the constructive engagement with the international community in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue.

Foreign Minister Peiris said the Government of Sri Lanka has undertaken substantial steps with a view to accountability, restorative justice and meaningful reconciliation which were efforts due to the work of domestic institutions and invited the heads of these institutions to brief on the tangible progress made. Accordingly, presentations on the progress of domestic institutions during the past year were made by: Chairperson of the Office for Reparations (OR) Dhara Wijayatilake, Director General, Sustainable Development Council (SDC) Chamindry Saparamadu, Director General, Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Deepthi Lamahewa, Head of Protection & Legal, Office of Missing Persons (OMP) and J. Thatparan, Director, Research and Monitoring of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Nihal Chandrasiri.

The Minister was particularly pleased to inform that after 43 years, the Prevention of Terrorism Act is being amended with the objective of bringing it in line with international norms and best practices. He informed that Cabinet approval has been obtained to gazette the Bill containing the proposed amendments and thereafter to table the Bill in Parliament for final approval. The Minister explained that the PTA is being amended after lengthy deliberations over several months.

He added that substantive amendments to the PTA include amendments to the sections on detention orders, restriction orders, expressly recognizing judicial review of orders, expeditious disposal of cases of those charged to avoid long term detention, repealing sections impinging on freedom of expression and introduction of provisions on access by magistrates and judicial medical officers, prevention of maltreatment and torture during the detention period, right to communicate with the family, grant of bail to long term detainees and day to day hearing of cases.

The Foreign Minister also referred to the establishment of an Advisory Board under Section 13 of the PTA to advise the Minister of Defence on long term detainees. Any person who has been issued a Detention Order or a Restriction Order under the PTA is provided an opportunity to request a review of the Order. In addition, Presidential pardons were granted to 16 LTTE cadres serving sentences under the PTA in June 2021 and a legal and administrative process has been set in motion to release detainees who have been in judicial custody for extended periods under charges relating to the PTA. Accordingly, 13 more persons were discharged as of 13 January, 2022.

Foreign Minister Peiris also referred to recent developments relating to Hejaaz Hizbullah noting that a case has been filed by the Attorney General under the PTA. The Attorney General has informed the Court of Appeal that he will not object to bail being granted to the accused. With regard to the Presidential Task Force on Archaeological Heritage Management, the Minister informed that representatives of the Tamil and Muslim communities had been included.

The Foreign Minister informed the Heads of Mission of the visits he had undertaken to the Eastern, Southern and Central provinces and his forthcoming visit to the Northern province of Sri Lanka with the objective of engaging in consultations with various stakeholders including politicians, government officials, intellectuals and academics, members of civil society Organizations at the grass roots to discuss and obtain a feedback on various measures the government has already taken to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and on human rights and reconciliation efforts.

The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Hanaa Singer-Hamdy appreciated the work done by the relevant national institutions in the areas of transitional justice, achievement of the SDG’s and amendments to the PTA. The Ambassador of Egypt Maged Mosleh highlighted the importance of the international community working with Sri Lanka to promote human rights and reconciliation and observed the impressive achievements made by Sri Lanka in combating terrorism and dealing with its aftermath.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

27 January, 2022

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-briefs-dpl/)

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has taken the initiative to assist Sri Lankan workers in Italy to benefit from the amnesty granted by Italian authorities under the ‘SANTATORIA 2020’ programme from 01 June to 15 August 2020.

Taking into consideration the difficulties faced by Sri Lankan workers in the COVID-19 context, Minister Gunawardena has taken steps to waive off penalty fees for lack of documentation for workers applying for Sri Lankan passports and has brought down the fees to Euro 140 (from Euro 330 and Euro 420). This initiative will benefit an estimated 20,000 Sri Lankan workers currently staying in Italy who will be able to afford to apply for visas to work in Italy after obtaining their Sri Lankan passports.

 Ministry of Foreign Relations

High Commissioner Harsha Kumara Navaratne presented credentials to Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar at the Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada on 13^th January 2022. The High Commissioner and his delegation was cordially welcomed by the office of ICAO under COVID health guidelines. 

Presenting Credentials to the Secretary General, High Commissioner  Navaratne added greetings  from  H E the  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa  and the Government of Sri Lanka   and also took  the opportunity to congratulate  the  Secretary General   on his  appointment as the  ICAO Secretary  General in the latter part of 2021. 

During discussions, the High Commissioner stated that Sri Lanka is member of the ICAO since 1948 and has endeavoured to incorporate ICAO principles in the Sri Lanka National Civil Aviation Policy introduced in 2019. He further stated that the Government of Sri Lanka has acceded to the Cape Town Convention and related Protocols, Beijing Convention and Associated Supplementary Protocols and Protocol to amend the Convention of offences and certain other acts committed on board aircraft and the Montreal Protocol. 

Appreciating  the call  of ICAO and United Nations  World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)  for acceleration  of global efforts  to reconnect the  world  due to COVID 19 in August last year the Sri Lanka  delegation stated that  such  efforts  will ease the  economic hardships   felt  by the  peoples of all  countries and  Sri Lanka  would  also benefit  as  its  economy depends on tourism.   The Sri Lanka delegation also inquired and discussed on new   training opportunities from which   industry officials in Sri Lanka    could benefit. 

Secretary General  Salazar  stated that he  is has  close interaction  with  Sri Lanka  even before  his  appointment and  has  visited  Sri Lanka and  is familiar with  the  country. He also  stated that  ICAO is  closely  working  with  UNWTO  on several  fronts  and he  welcomes  Sri Lanka  to  take part in  its  initiatives  based on interest. 

At the  end of the discussions,  High Commissioner  Navaratne on behalf of the  Government  reiterated  its  commitment  to  ICAO  principles  that include safe and orderly development of international civil aviation, with  the complementary aim that international air transport services should be operated soundly and economically and established on the basis of equality of opportunity. 

Deputy High Commissioner Anzul B Jhan and M D K Aravinda, IT Officer of the High Commission participated in the discussions.

Sri Lanka High Commission

 Ottawa

14^th January 2022