As eloquently expressed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and by Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sri Lanka has made massive gains in the sphere of Human Rights over the past 12 years since the terrorist battle ended.
Perhaps the most significant event in this regard was President Rajapaksa’s decision to extend an olive branch to the Tamil Diaspora scattered all over the world to begin a constructive dialogue with the Government of Sri Lanka. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 2009 and it is time for all Sri Lankans, regardless of where they live, to come together and work for the betterment of Mother Lanka. Several Tamil Diaspora leaders as well as MPs of Diaspora origins have welcomed this proposal and some have even gone to the extent of nominating certain neutral foreign capitals for such talks.
This is a very positive development. The Tamil Diaspora has a stake in the future of Sri Lanka and if they can move away from certain extreme stances and arrive at a middle ground, Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans will gain immensely. They can contribute their knowledge and expertise to help especially the people of the North and the East. Both sides should stop seeing each other as the ‘enemy’, show some flexibility and open up to a free flow of ideas. But first, the Diaspora leaders need to come and see the actual ground situation here in Sri Lanka.
This seems to be the exact premise behind a visit by a European Union (EU) delegation that is currently touring Sri Lanka. They have already met several key ministers and other stakeholders for talks and fact-finding. European Nations and Sri Lanka enjoy fruitful relations bound by the common thread of democracy and other shared values. The EU is one of the biggest markets for our exports and also a major source market for our tourism industry. Sri Lanka also imports everything from cars to paper from Europe, forming a healthy trade relationship.
This kind of mutual exchange of ideas will enable Sri Lanka to show the world its genuine commitment to Human Rights, accountability and other such concerns of the international community. The Government is now operating under extremely difficult circumstances. If one looks at Sri Lanka objectively and dispassionately, while considering Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has done a formidable job in attending to the many difficulties faced by the country.
The UNHRC met in March this year adopting a Resolution against Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka has taken many measures on the very matters addressed by the EU and the UNHRC even before these came up at international forums. Actually, as explained by the Government at many international forums, Sri Lanka is taking these steps voluntarily for the sake of its own people, not due to any external demands.
The Government appointed a Commission of Inquiry with a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to go through the previous actions taken in respect of any violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The Office on Missing Persons, the Office for Repatriation and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation are also engaged actively in the pursuit of their mandates. Away from the HR front, the tremendous progress made to adopt Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by a committee chaired by the President is also worthy of mention. The country is also seeking to protect its pristine environment and forest cover by way of new legislation and practical action. The biggest concern at the moment is seeing a way out of the Covid pandemic. With more than 50 percent of the population fully vaccinated, Sri Lanka is well on its way to meet this target.
The terrorist battle, no doubt a painful period in which thousands lost their lives and countless others, both combatants and civilians, were maimed for life. But they say that the past is a foreign country and indeed, we should focus on the future. Accordingly, the Government has rehabilitated well over 12,000 former LTTE cadres and released them to society as reformed, useful citizens. This program was so successful that when some Army personnel who were in charge of rehabilitation received a routine transfer, the former LTTE combatants cried openly and begged them not to leave. Very recently, the Government released 16 LTTE cadres who were serving jail sentences.
The files of others are being reviewed and more are likely to be released in due course. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), under which most of them have been jailed, is itself likely to be reformed to suit modern times and challenges such as transnational terrorism. Sri Lanka indeed experienced the effects of the latter through the Easter bombings of 2019 and a massive investigation is now underway. Even in this case, a large number of those arrested initially had been released. Only those having watertight cases against them will face trial.
But constant external interference could actually derail the genuine efforts being taken to address HR and accountability concerns. Sri Lanka needs the time and space to address these concerns extensively. This should be a completely home-grown process, though Sri Lanka could derive examples and inspiration from countries such as South Africa and Ireland which have suffered similar tragedies like our 30-year-old battle. But in the end, no outside solution can be supplanted here. Peace and reconciliation should come from within the hearts of Sri Lankans. Only then will Sri Lanka be able to march forward as one nation, one people.