Lakshman KiriellaThe UNP today said that there were human rights violations committed by the Government and they need to now set things right.
UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the Weliweriya incident where villagers were attacked when demanding water and the Welikada prison riot where several inmates were killed, are good examples of human rights being violated.
“The law and order situation has completely broken down in the country,” he said.
Kiriella also said that the media in Sri Lanka have been suppressed by the Government and they control the media to the extent that the media refuses to tell the public the truth.
He also accused the Government of double standards saying the Government says one thing locally and something else internationally.
Kiriella said the Government had made several promises to the international community but failed to fulfill those promises.
He said several Government Ministers had assured the UN Human Rights Council that the 17th amendment to the constitution will be implemented but the Government has failed to do so.
The MP said the UNP is willing to help the Government on the human rights issue but the Government must first do it’s part in order to obtain that support.
He said the Government must launch a domestic human rights investigation which meets international standards, as earlier promised to the international community.
The MP said that by launching a domestic probe the Government will be able to avoid an international war crimes investigation. (Colombo Gazette)