We the undersigned Sri Lankan civil society activists and organizations, wish to bring to your attention human rights issues of pivotal importance to reconciliation, unity, peace and prosperity in our country, which we strongly believe should be included in your party manifestos for the forthcoming General Election.
During the campaign period leading to the January 2015 Presidential Election, the focus was governance and anti- corruption as the immediate need of the day to salvage democracy and restore the rule of law in Sri Lanka. There appeared to be a consensus that once this was done and an enabling environment thereby created, the longer term issues of peace and reconciliation, the process of transitional justice, an end to the culture of impunity in respect of all human rights violations and a political settlement of the ethnic conflict, would be addressed in earnest.
We are of the firm belief that the Parliament to be elected on the 17 of August will have to address these issues as a matter of the utmost priority if we as Sri Lankans are to realize the full potential for peace and prosperity in a truly united country that is inherent in all our fellow citizens. We have languished for too long in a post- war situation, in which the roots of conflict are sustained and even allowed to be reproduced. We need to move to a post-conflict situation characterized by the absence of human rights violations and in order to do so, we strongly urge that the following, in particular, be included as firm pledges in your manifestos.
1 . Commit to a political and constitutional settlement of the ethnic conflict based on meaningful power-sharing.
2. Ensure families have access to the truth, and hold accountable all those responsible for enforced and involuntary disappearances, and that the crime of disappearances be criminalized under Sri Lankan Law.
3. Repeal or reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), bringing it in line with Sri Lanka’s international obligations, and that all long-term detainees be charged or released with immediate effect.
4. Zero tolerance on the issues of enforced and involuntary disappearance, torture, religious and gender based violence and attacks, suppression of dissent and threats on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).
5.Bring an end to the prevailing culture of impunity, and strengthen the judiciary to uphold the law and hold accountable all those responsible for human rights violations.
6. Put in place processes and mechanisms of transitional justice in conformity with international standards, and continued, constructive engagement with victims, affected communities, local civil society groups and the international community.
7. Ensure an enabling environment for civil society activism.
8. Implement pro-people, participatory and sustainable economic, development and environmental policies, approaches and practices.
Let us NOT miss this historic opportunity for true reform and reconciliation!
Sincerely,
Individuals
- Alphonse Mary – Batticaloa
- Ameer M. Faaiz – Attorney-at-law
- Anandi Sivasubramanium
- Anberiya Hanifa
- Anushaya Collure
- Aruni Jayakody – Attorney-at-law
- Gowthaman – Attorney-at-law
- Balasingham Skanthakumar
- Bhavani Fonseka – Attorney-at-law
- Brito Fernando
- Ranitha Gnanarajah – Attorney-at-law
- Cayathri D
- Chandra Jayaratne
- Chandraguptha Thenuwara – Artist/Senior Lecturer
- Deanne Uyangoda
- A. Selvendiran – Advisor, NGO Consortium, Batticaloa
- J. T. Xavier F.R.C.S. (Retd.) – Batticaloa
- Jehan Perera
- Malathi de Alwis
- Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
- Sepali Kottegoda
- Faizun Zackariya
- Farzana Haniffa
- Gajen Mahendra
- Gehan Gunatilleke – Attorney-at-law
- Godfrey Yogarajah
- Herman Kumara
- Hilmy Ahamed
- Jacqueline
- Jansila Majeed
- Jayanta de S. Wijeratne
- Jeanne Samuel
- Joe William
- Aingkaran
- S. Ratnavale – Attorney-at-law
- Kalani Subasinghe
- Kumudini Samuel
- Kusal Perera – Journalist
- Luwie Ganeshathasan – Attorney-at-law
- A.L. Perera
- S. Nilashani
- Mala Liyanage
- Mangaleswary Shanker
- Manori Kalugampitiya
- Mario Gomez
- Marisa de Silva
- Menaha Kandasamy
- Minoli de Soysa
- Mirak Raheem
- Mohammed Mahuruf
- Nalini Ratnarajah
- Nilshan Fonseka
- Nimalka Fernando – Attorney-at-law
- Niran Anketell – Attorney-at-law
- Padmini Weerasooriya
- Prabodha Rathnayaka – Attorney-at-law
- Priya Thangarajah
- Priyanthi Fernando
- Camena Guneratne – Open University of Sri Lanka
- Jayantha Seneviratne – University of Kelaniya
- M.S. Mookiah
- M.B Senanayake – Retd. CCS
- Rajaledsumi – Women’s Rights Activist
- Fr. Anthony Fernando – Salesian of Don Bosco
- Fr. Dixon Fernando SDB – Rector, Don Bosco – Dungalpitiya
- Fr. Guy Fonghaland
- Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
- Fr. Jeyaraj Rasiah SJ
- Fr. Joseph Mary SJ – Batticaloa
- Fr. Nihal Liyanage
- Fr. Rohan Dominic
- Fr. V. Yogeswaran – Attorney-at-law
- Sr. Deepa Fernando HF
- Sr. Nichola Emmanuel SCJM
- Sr. Victorine James – Holy Cross Provincialate, Kochchikade
- Rohini Dep Weerasinghe
- Rosanna Flamer-Caldera
- Ruki Fernando
- Sabra Zahid – Attorney-at-law
- Sandhya Eknaligoda
- Saroja Sivachandran
- Sathiya Sarasakopal
- Shashika L. Bandara
- Sheila Richards
- Shreen Saroor
- Shyamala Gomez
- Solomon Anthony Nirmalan – Claretian Congregation
- Sudarshana Gunawardana – Attorney-at-law
- Sunanda Deshapriya
- Sunela Jayewardene
- Suriya Wickremasinghe
- Mathuri – Attorney-at-law
- Udaya Kalupathirana
- Visaka Dharmadasa
Organizations
- Alliance Development Trust
- Association of War Affected Women
- Center for Promotion & Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR)
- Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)
- Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
- Ceylon Workers Red Flag Union
- Citizens’ Voice for Justice and Peace
- Domestic Workers Union (DWU)
- Equal Ground Sri Lanka
- Federation of Media Employee’s Trade Unions
- Gandhi Sewa Society – Batticaloa
- Inform Human Rights Documentation Centre
- International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
- Kantha Shakthi Forum
- Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
- Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)
- National Peace Council (NPC)
- Red Flag Women’s Movement
- Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L)
- Rights Now Collective for Democracy
- Secretariat for Muslims (SFM)
- Sisters of the Holy Cross
- South Asian Centre for Legal Studies
- Vikalpani National Women’s Network
- Women’s Centre – Ja-Ela
- Women’s Development Centre – Jaffna
- Women’s Political Academy
- Young Asia Television (YATV) 13th July, 2015